Posted 12-29-2002 09:35 AM by black widow
here's the place to continue discussion of all the books related to roswell ... the roswell high series by melinda metz, the new tv-tie in books currently in release, and the other books related to the show (crash into me, the roswell trivia book, etc).

confused by all the different titles? check out the wonderful web pageprometheus created -- it'll help straighten things out!

Posted 12-29-2002 10:32 AM by BrattyAngel
Okay I finished Little Green Men last night and I found it very different from the two previous titles Loose Ends and No Good Deed.

It felt like a novelization. It was very plot-driven rather then character-orientated. It just lacked something..

It was an alright read though. It just didn't satisfy me the way the Melinda Metz series can.

Thumbs up for the annoying habit reference to Alex's post-mindwarp. But thumbs down for Sherriff Valenti still being Sheriff. I thought after the 'Hybrid Chronicles' to was lost his badge? I could be wrong though. I often am!

Becky

Posted 12-29-2002 12:04 PM by Maizli
Valenti did lose his job after or during the Hybrid Chronicles.

I changed my mind. I like Dreamwalk better than Skeletons just for the backstory on Kyle.

Posted 12-29-2002 01:46 PM by shapeshifter

quote:Originally posted by black widow:...confused by all the different titles? check out the wonderful web pageprometheus created -- it'll help straighten things out![/QB]

prometheus, wonderful website!

For those who want to read more about the books, see also these archived FF thread discussions:

Posted 12-29-2002 02:19 PM by lene
I have read all of the roswell books with the exception of little green men and I am going to buy it if I think it is a good book. Whoever has read it can you please tell me if I schould get it or not? I would appreciate it.

Posted 12-29-2002 05:17 PM by shapeshifter
lene, IMNSHO, Little Green Men stays closest to the show in format and characterizations.

Posted 12-29-2002 05:52 PM by black widow
i quite liked 'little green men.' i thought it was, well, for want of a better word, cute. it seemed the most to me of all the books like it could be an actual episode of the show. like brattyangel said, it seemed a lot like a novelization, which i didn't think was a bad thing.

and yay me, i bought 'dreamwalk' today! can't wait to get stuck into it!

Posted 12-30-2002 03:18 PM by Writergal
I also bought Dreamwalk over the weekend... yay! I have to admit, I'm sorry that we won't be continuing on with the "parents/donors" story introduced in Skeletons in the Closet. I have to admit, I also felt the donor choices for ISabel and Max were "ick" considering...

(SPOILER HERE - SORT OF)

and yet how strangely appropriate... Amazing how reality and fantasy can combine.

Posted 12-31-2002 10:54 AM by black widow
hey you!

yeah ... funny you should say that, robyn -- i thought the exact same thing, like the authors were having a bit of an inside joke regarding the donors for max and isabel ...

i'm reading dreamwalk now -- so far, so good. i'm happy it focuses on kyle, he's often overlooked. but yet again, the stereotypical M/M fighting is getting a little tedious to read. gah.

Posted 12-31-2002 09:21 PM by The Amazing Spider-Man
Hey, I just picked up 'Shades'. Haven't read it yet, but I'm excited about the new book series from what I've heard. I was going to wait until I finished with the original series(still haven't found book 5), but just decided 'what the heck'.

From the website, I noticed that the title for book 5 of the new series is called 'A New Beginning'. I'm speculating that it's probably the first book that takes place post-season finale...sort of like a season 4 premiere had the show not been cancelled.

However, it doesn't seem to have a writer yet. Anyone think they're going to have another show writer(like Laura Burns for book 4) write it? Give it sort of an 'official' feel? Possibly MM?

-Peter

Posted 01-01-2003 01:54 PM by The Christmas Nazi
On the last chapter of "Skeletons In The Closet" and my friend got me "No Good Deads" and "Shades" for christmas .

I recommend "Skeletons" to everyone b/c it was really good . Has to do with the whole Hybrid episodes of Roswell . Kicks @$$

Posted 01-02-2003 08:33 PM by greenjetta
What does everyone think of "Dreamwalk" so far?

Posted 01-02-2003 08:49 PM by black widow
SPOILER

SPACE

just in case.

as i said above, i'm loving the kyle-centric plot so far, i love his friendship with isabel, and i love how they're exploring his take on the whole alex thingl i never thought this was covered enough in the episodes. the max/liz/babysitting thing is kind of boring (so far), and i'm irked beyond words that yet AGAIN, the writers resort to cliches and have michael/maria engage in tired old fights that make her look like a shrew and him look like an ignoramus. blah.

but i'm only on chapter 11 -- opinions may vary as i keep reading!

Posted 01-03-2003 05:17 PM by Writergal

quote:Originally posted by black widow:and i'm irked beyond words that yet AGAIN, the writers resort to cliches and have michael/maria engage in tired old fights that make her look like a shrew and him look like an ignoramus. blah.

Why is that? Yes, I still stand by my thoughts that Michael and Maria are the most realistic couple in ways, yet they could give us a break and do something different!

Happy New Year, FI! Missed you. Hope you had a great holiday!

Robyn

Posted 01-03-2003 07:02 PM by black widow
happy new year to you, too! did you get my postcard yet?

i, too, think michael and maria seem to be the most realistically portrayed, but i'm honestly beginning to reconsider that opinion for the book series. the arguing is getting very old, very fast, and it's a consistent theme throughout almost all of the books. didn't someone on the old thread say mel odom, when contacted, had been told by the publishers to push the M/M arguing in his book? why on earth is that? fun, feisty bantering (a la josh and donna on the west wing ... sorry, had to squeeze that little plug in there! ) is one thing, but this is worlds away from that level of argument / interaction. it's honestly getting ridiculous and not enjoyable to read anymore. it's turned into such a cliche!

Posted 01-04-2003 09:53 AM by shapeshifter
I have a bone to pick with Skeletons In The Closet (pun intended). In the book, supposedly the authorities had a long rap sheet on Michael's foster dad as an abuser of wives and Michael. But in the Indpendence Day episode, Max & Iz are shocked to learn that Michael is being hit. Is this creative license with the story, or did somebody(s) not care enough to re-read the script or re-watch the episode on which the book was based?

Posted 01-04-2003 12:04 PM by Maizli
Hmm, little bone, but I love the book overall. I just think the book went overboard in going for connections to the eps that the writers might simply have missed this one.

Posted 01-04-2003 04:41 PM by shapeshifter
Maizli, I hereby nominate you to wear the Roswell Apologist hat. I just finished Dreamwalk (which was great), and in it there is a passing mention that Michael had been abuse by Hank for a long time without Max & Iz knowing.

Posted 01-05-2003 02:03 AM by larek
hey ya'll. being an employee of Waldenbooks, i get dibs on books pretty quickly. i've read all the melinda metz series, little green men, no good deed, loose ends, shades, and now i'm on crash into me and skeletons. shades was a pretty good book, like someone said: a lot like the hybrid chronicles. it was the creepiest written of any i've read so far. it held my attention. little green men was a little 'out there' even for roswell if you ask me. the whole people-turning-green thing was a little corny to me. i wasn't a big fan of 'wipeout' either. the whole episode seemed as if it was a big blunder itself (in that wouldn't all the want to know what happened when they wiped-in? i mean, their cars were crashed and i remember at least one baby carriage that had fallen to the ground). already in skeletons i've noticed that the authors aren't that informed on details of our beloved show. they must've just written this for a paycheck (don't they all). for instance, on page 12 they explain how Tess 'STOLE' the granilith. she didn't STEAL it really. cause it was 1/4 hers, and they didn't try to stop her... but ANYWAYS on page 11 they refer to the crashdown uniforms as LIME GREEN when they're obviously a turqouise-like color. this isn't good being that i'm only on page 20. but the premise of this book so far seems interesting as long as the writers don't stray too far from roswellian reality. loose ends had a good storyline. i got kinda bored cause they stayed in the caverns the whole time though. no good deed was written well although it seemed a little anticlimactic at times. maybe just frustrating. AND I TOTALLY AGREE ABOUT THE M/M THING!!it seems as though they just tell these authors to go ahead and create a sub-plot of M/M of always fighting. for goodness sake, why didn't their relationship stay like it was in Departure?? welp, those are rants with book reviews. thanks for reading so far .

Posted 01-05-2003 02:50 AM by PrometheusUFO
I just finished reading Dreamwalk. I think it's right up there with Skeletons as another favorite of mine.

But my interest was piqued with Isabel's last lines spoken in the book though (I won't spoil any further. Sorry. ). Could the publishers be trying to form continuity between the books? Could what she spoke of resurface in a later book? Guess we must wait and see. I already can't wait to read Quarantine.

[ 01-05-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 01-05-2003 05:38 AM by mark_steps
Ok i know i am slow at getting the books, but so far i have read in Order:The Outsider,The Wild One, The Seeker and The Watcher. waiting on The Intruder to be delivered.I was given The Outsider,Loose Ends and Little Green Men for my 21st (amongst other things) but i never knew each book carried on after the last, so having read L.E and L.G.M have i mucked up or can these be read at any time? May have to re-read them.

Any one on MSN that wants to chat? Catch me on mark_steps@hotmail.com (Hope im allowed to do this)

Posted 01-05-2003 10:09 AM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by mark_steps:I was given The Outsider,Loose Ends and Little Green Men for my 21st (amongst other things) but i never knew each book carried on after the last, so having read L.E and L.G.M have i mucked up or can these be read at any time? May have to re-read them.

The Roswell High book series (The Outsider,The Wild One, The Seeker, The Watcher etc) is separate from the Roswell book series (Loose Ends, Little Green Men etc). The Roswell High series were the books that the TV show was based on and the Roswell series was based on the TV show and has no continuity, except maybe until Dreamwalk.

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:Maizli, I hereby nominate you to wear the Roswell Apologist hat. I just finished Dreamwalk (which was great), and in it there is a passing mention that Michael had been abuse by Hank for a long time without Max & Iz knowing.

Hey, I caught that in the book as well but I was drooling over the Kyle storyline. Did I mention I love the Kyle story? I love it.

I hope what Isabel said at the end of Dreamwalk comes back. It will give Kyle more story plus I will be able to see their close friendship develop more. When season 3 started I thought, why are they so close? It didn't compute with how they were in the end of season 2.

Posted 01-05-2003 12:46 PM by AFLP
Hey all!

I went to Waldens yesterday, but they don't seem to have Dreamwalk yet, so I may just have to order it online instead. That or stop at Barnes & Noble.

Glad to hear it is focused primarily on Kyle. I love Kyle, it's about damn time he got some attention somewhere.

Posted 01-05-2003 12:48 PM by Maizli

quote:Originally posted by AFLP:Glad to hear it is focused primarily on Kyle. I love Kyle, it's about damn time he got some attention somewhere.

Absolutely.

Posted 01-05-2003 01:22 PM by mark_steps
Ok thanks! Must mind that!

Posted 01-05-2003 04:16 PM by AlexEvans
I read Little Green Men but I was very disappointed. It could have been an episode of the show - when the show was at its worst.

Some characters were horribly under-used. Alex, especially. Isabel got some space but it was pointless space. Also, it made no sense for her to be dating somebody. Grant had just died! And there were M/M and M/L scenes, yet no A/I.

After that I'm not going to go buy the others (except the original series by Metz which is great!) but if the library gets them, I'll try them.

Posted 01-05-2003 05:45 PM by Maizli
AlexEvansHave to read the books again to see Isabel/Alex interactions. Maybe future books will have Alex's spirit visit Isabel more often.

Posted 01-05-2003 06:21 PM by AlexEvans
Hey Maizli.

I just want Alex back. C'mon it's books... they don't even have the fake excuse of Colin Hanks not being available!

It isn't really Roswell if it doesn't have A/I, M/M and M/L. They can call it a Roel book but it's really just a pale imitation.

Posted 01-05-2003 06:32 PM by Maizli
I agree AlexEvans. Alex off the show leaves a hole. I loved the third ep in season 3. It was all about Alex.

Posted 01-05-2003 09:47 PM by The Amazing Spider-Man
There are a few dozen ways of bring Alex back:

-Alex that died is really a clone.-Clone-Alex shows up-Alex is a disembodied spirit that posesses various bodies.-Alex lives in Kyle's body(much like the whole Max/Clayton thing)-Alex isn't really dead...his body is in suspended animation. Crawls up from the grave zombie-style.-Shape-shifter(the Alex that died...not the real one).-Abducted by aliens(I'm serious here)-...and tons more.

I agree, though. After reading the original books, it just isn't the same without Alex. They're attempting to turn Kyle into Alex # 2, but it just isn't the same.

-Peter

Posted 01-05-2003 10:21 PM by shapeshifter
About bringing Alex back: Having him abducted to another planet would follow the Metz books premise. Combined with what we saw In Chant Down Babylon, Alex's essence could be inhabiting some Antarian who would come to earth using Kvar's wormhole (again like Alex's return in the books) and then morph back to his original form like Clayton becoming Max. A little more magical than sci fi, admittedly, but the show is already that way.

quote:Originally posted by larek:...little green men was a little 'out there' even for roswell if you ask me. the whole people-turning-green thing was a little corny to me. i wasn't a big fan of 'wipeout' either. ...

Hey larek.I relate to your reviews with the exception of this one. Personally, I don't mind campiness. Since both started with 'out there' premises--Little Green Men: people turning green; Wipe Out: The Greenis Time Machine--I didn't expect realism. But I'm sure most fans would prefer more realism like you do. And I like also like realism, but kitch is fine too. I Married and Alien was excellent that way. But again, most fans didn't like it.

quote:Originally posted by larek:...in skeletons i've noticed that the authors aren't that informed on details of our beloved show. they must've just written this for a paycheck (don't they all). ...... but ANYWAYS on page 11 they refer to the crashdown uniforms as LIME GREEN when they're obviously a turqouise-like color. this isn't good being that i'm only on page 20. but the premise of this book so far seems interesting ...

I Totally Agree--though I kept telling myself the poor author was just color blind. It was a good premise. But not well edited.

Posted 01-05-2003 10:22 PM by black widow

quote:Originally posted by Maizli:I hope what Isabel said at the end of Dreamwalk comes back.

okay ... just finished 'dreamwalk' tonight and i read the last page with your comment above in mind, and when i got to that particular section and finished reading it ... i didn't get it!!!

SPOILER

SPACE

again, just to be on the safe side!

okay, so at the very end of the book, isabel realises michelle, kyle's mother, left when kyle was 6 -- which is the same age that she, michael, tess and max came out of the pods.

and i'm waiting for the pin to drop after reading that, but all i came up with was a great big "so?" i don't get it! what does one thing have to do with the other? we know michelle wasn't either of the guardians of the pods (nasedo / kal langley), so ... what? why would her leaving have anything to do with the pod squad being "born"?

and most of all, this is the line in the book that just had me scratching my head and going, "HUH?"

"isabel knew that she could not pursue that line of thought with anyone else. at best, it would open up old wounds while at worst it could lead to even more tragic consequences."

i'll say it again, because apparently i'm really dumb ... huh? i get that at best, it would open old wounds -- i.e. kyle and valenti would be hurt by the subject being brought up. but why on earth would it lead to 'tragic consequences'? when the aliens came out of their pods, nothing tragic happened ... right? or did i massively miss something?

so, so very confused ....

Posted 01-05-2003 10:48 PM by Maizli
black widow, here are my thoughts with spoiler space************black widow, I think when Isabel thought she could not open that can of worms is because Kyle got some kind of closure with her stating that he had no power over helping his mom leave him and Jim. If I remember the dream sequences, there was a car abandoned and Valenti crying (big boys don't cry). My inderstanding is that Kyle's mom left but we do not know what happened to her. She's off somewhere. Maybe Jim was crying because he knew that Kyle's mom was dead but put the story to Kyle she just disappeared. We know that the podsters had powers came out of the pods with powers. I'm thinking that maybe Isabel suspects they (podsters newly hatched) had something to do with the abandoned car. We know Michael could not control his powers. We know that he was left alone for awhile before being picked up. We know that he ran off first from Max and Isabel before they found him. He was hiding behind a rock. Could he have done something and not understood it? Is this what Isabel is thinking? Then on TV, we have a shapeshifter who killed Hank. We know it wasn't the California dude because he was able to taste for not shapeshifting awhile. Nasedo, who knows? Now I'm getting into the theories that turned into chads that drove me crazy. So, I'm not going there before bed.

Does this make any possibe coherent sense?

Posted 01-05-2003 11:15 PM by shapeshifter

quote:Originally posted by Maizli:...Does this make any possibe coherent sense?

Yes. Maybe an abduction.

Posted 01-05-2003 11:17 PM by Maizli
Maybe, but I'm thinking more along the lines that Michael freaked out, he was scared, blocked it out, and Kyle's mom was never found. I'd say Michael or shapeshifter (no pun intended ).

Good night all.

[ 01-05-2003: Message edited Maizli ]

Posted 01-06-2003 01:21 AM by larek
in defense of my under-paying company, waldenbooks (often referred to as walden's), we usually wouldn't have these 'small-time' books. they're just paycheck books that are written for young adults, therefore, not having to have much intelligence put into them. or as much as we'd like. there not in the same category as grisham or coonts or steele, and since my store is not very large in size-we have to work with what we have. ANYWAYS, i had to order dreamwalk myself today. we can receive it in about a week. (at my store, if you order before sat. u can get it by thurs. unless it's on back-order, where dreamwalk won't be.) since dreamwalk came out just this month, and with the post-holiday clean up, we won't be receiving as much shipment.

Posted 01-06-2003 04:34 PM by AlexEvans
I have to agree with Shapeshifter and Spidey. There are many ways to bring Alex back, and having him have been abducted would be best.

I wish Roswell had never introduced past life/reincarnation, or time travel, or possession... but it did. So it might as well be well used.

Posted 01-06-2003 10:21 PM by black widow
maizli ... thanks for that. i see what you're saying, and it isn't something i'd ever considered -- hence my inability to wrap my head around the idea! -- but it is definitely an unspoken possibility as to what happened. (i think the key is the abandoned car in the desert.) though i have to say, i still can't seem to picture 6-year-old michael being responsible ... nasedo, perhaps -- perhaps she accidentally stumbled across nasedo, who was back to check on the pods or something, and he killed her. who knows? i was just having trouble figuring out how her disappearance was connected to the podsters actually being *born.* i didn't put 2 and 2 together and connect her disappearance to the podsters AFTER they were born ... er, hatched.

Posted 01-06-2003 11:30 PM by shapeshifter

quote:Originally posted by black widow:...perhaps she accidentally stumbled across nasedo, who was back to check on the pods or something, and he killed her. ...

That's the only thing I could think of that would fit. But on other Mythology threads we speculated that Maria's father was a shapeshifter...so maybe Kyle's mom? But that wouldn't fit with anything else. So, it's got to be that Nasedo killed her. And Iz would be feeling the "it's all our fault" thing.

Posted 01-07-2003 01:26 PM by xmag
The interesting thing is that both Kyle's mother and Maria's father left around the same time. hey, it was a small town, they could have had an affair and left town together

IF something bad happened to Kyle's mother, i agree about Nacedo being responsible. He missed Max, Isabel and Michael hatching, but not Tess and from what we know, Tess must have hatched a few weeks after them. Maybe she saw a man, Nacedo, with a naked child and could have called the police, and then Nacedo had to kill her. After all, killing humans came naturally to him.

Posted 01-07-2003 04:32 PM by Writergal
Okay, I know Shades was discussed ages ago (well, in the first discussion) but I decided to give it a go after Skeletons in the Closet. Call it morbid curiosity.SHADES

SPOILER

I started it thinking, hey... this isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Sure, it's a little more "Buffy-ish" than Roswell with the ghosts. And when Kyle faces his I had Shining flashbacks. Okay, I thought. This is keeping me entertained...And then, the metallic creatures appeared.I have to agree with black widow. There was a lot of technical detail thrown in at the end making me go, "huh?" Isabel's adventures with River Dog were odd, and even odder that we never actually found out what happened with him. At the end, it felt a bit like Interruptus, when Michael suddenly "remembered" everything that had happened on Antar with Kivar and Vilandra. I don't recall the "sibilant" voices, but I'll take your word for it.And yes, in both this one and Skeletons, Maria and Michael seem to be caught in a bickering pattern with Maria coming across like a single-minded shrew.I didn't get the title, either.

The beginning had potential as far as I was concerned but in the end, the story ended up imploding into itself... not unlike the ship!

On to Dreamwalk...

[ 01-07-2003: Message edited Writergal ]

Posted 01-07-2003 06:29 PM by black widow

quote:Originally posted by xmag:The interesting thing is that both Kyle's mother and Maria's father left around the same time. hey, it was a small town, they could have had an affair and left town together

hey now, there's a thought!! and it makes sense, too! someone ought to write a fanfic about that!

quote:IF something bad happened to Kyle's mother, i agree about Nacedo being responsible. He missed Max, Isabel and Michael hatching, but not Tess and from what we know, Tess must have hatched a few weeks after them. Maybe she saw a man, Nacedo, with a naked child and could have called the police, and then Nacedo had to kill her. After all, killing humans came naturally to him.

that makes sense, too. i like that theory a lot better than the child-michael attacking her. oooh, this is all screaming for a fanfic -- i bet with some of the talent out there, the story could be as well written (if not better) than these novels we're reading (especially 'shades'! robyn, i'm glad i'm not the only one who thought it was a bit of a letdown.)

Posted 01-07-2003 07:22 PM by Writergal
You know, Fi, I wanted to like it especially after the "shower scene" with Kyle... But wow. Felt like the whole Gandarium confusion all over again. I have to add, though... I did like the fact that Michael was the one who had the power in this one rather than Max. Nice balance.

The one thing that I found jolting with both Shades and Skeletons was the abruptness of the ending, with no carry over to the next book. (Great English, Robyn!) Especially with Skeletons... that whole Jolene thing screamed "to be continued..."

[ 01-07-2003: Message edited Writergal ]

Posted 01-07-2003 08:15 PM by black widow
i think the novels are meant to be stand alones, but yes -- it's incredibly frustrating when there are (pardon the pun) loose ends like that.

i'm actually looking forward to when (if) there are some post season-3 novels, because then we might be able to look forward to a bit of continuity from one to another.

but one thing i am enjoying about all the books is how much they incorporate details from the show. it makes them much more realistic and enjoyable to read. although, knowing the show as well as we all do, it also makes any glaring mistakes stand out even more (i.e. the lime green waitress uniforms, or maria putting her cedar oil on her tongue instead of sniffing it. (i didn't think cedar oil was edible! that would be like ... licking a tree, or something! ew!)

Posted 01-07-2003 09:22 PM by shapeshifter

quote:Originally posted by black widow:...knowing the show as well as we all do, it also makes any glaring mistakes stand out even more ......or maria putting her cedar oil on her tongue instead of sniffing it. ...

Didn't Maria put some aromatherapy concoction called "grief relief" on Liz's tongue in an early episode? Maybe the author only caught that one.

Posted 01-07-2003 10:47 PM by black widow
yes. in independence day, she put grief relief on liz's tongue. but in another early season one episode -- can't remember which -- she very distinctly sniffed her cedar oil. (it wasn't the pilot, she was sniffing cypress oil in that one!)

Posted 01-07-2003 11:54 PM by larek
that's creative! i like those storylines.where do they find these 'official' writers?doesn't it seem like we who know Roswell best should come up with the storylines and feed them to the writers? heck, if we do too much, it would just have to go straight to the editors!:P

Posted 01-08-2003 07:38 AM by xmag
quote:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Originally posted by xmag:The interesting thing is that both Kyle's mother and Maria's father left around the same time. hey, it was a small town, they could have had an affair and left town together ------------------------------------------------------

Black Widow :hey now, there's a thought!! and it makes sense, too! someone ought to write a fanfic about that!

---------------

Thanks, Black Widow, and IF Maria's father and Kyle's mother left together, stopped in the desert, and stumbled across Nacedo with a naked little girl, they wouldn't have stand a chance. They could be dead and buried somewhere in the desert. And that would explain why neither Maria, nor Kyle never heard from their respective parents again. I always found weird the similarity between their stories, a parent leaving at the same time, when they were the same age, who never contacted them again !! Roswell isn't that large of a town, so this explanation could be the good one.

As terrible as if it woulds seem for Maria and Kyle, it would mean that in a weird way, their young lives were already linked to the aliens, without them knowing it.

isn't that a little too scifi"ish" ? why would 2 shapeshifters marry humans, have kids, and then up and left ? where are Maria and Kyle's powers ? would it be even possible for shapeshifters to have children with humans ?Ditto with skins. And i think Jim and Amy would have noticed the button in their backs.

Honestly, i am more into the aliens/humans love stories, it takes something out of the alien charm when, in a fic, i read about one of the humans being alien.

Posted 01-08-2003 04:06 PM by The Amazing Spider-Man

quote:Originally posted by xmag:

isn't that a little too scifi"ish" ? why would 2 shapeshifters marry humans, have kids, and then up and left ? where are Maria and Kyle's powers ? would it be even possible for shapeshifters to have children with humans ?

Depends on what kind of shapeshifters they are. I didn't catch the episodes where they explain Nasedo's powers(SPACE went into season 3 before those eps), so if I'm wrong please forgive me.

Anyway, Skrulls(a shapeshifting alien race from the Fantastic Four comics) are able to change their internal orgins as well as their outter appearance. If the shape-shifters on Roswell can do that as well, then when they look human their DNA would be almost identical to a human's. So they could have children, so long as they stayed in human form until they had the child.

-Peter

Posted 01-08-2003 06:40 PM by shapeshifter

Originally posted by xmag: ...isn't that a little too scifi"ish" ?...

Nah. After all, this [is] Roswell.

Originally posted by xmag:... where are Maria and Kyle's powers ? ...

Baby Zan was all human.

Originally posted by xmag: ... And i think Jim and Amy would have noticed the button in their backs...

True. Hey! Why didn't we ask this about Pierce and Congresswoman Whittaker! Can it be? A NEW CHAD!

Originally posted by xmag: ...Honestly, i am more into the aliens/humans love stories, it takes something out of the alien charm when, in a fic, i read about one of the humans being alien.

Actually, ITA. But I also love to speculate. Great questions, BTW.

Posted 01-09-2003 04:48 AM by xmag
Shapeshifter : about the show in season 1, Nacedo only said that the powers the pod squad had were Humans powers, that these were powers the humans will have once they have advanced enough, maybe in a 1000 years, you know, like going from Homo sapiens, to Homo sapiens sapiens, and then to a new form Homo sapiens sapiens II ?

About having children with aliens, well, we don't know. All i know is that in the Hybrid Chronicles, the Gandarium was needed to bridge the alien DNA and the human DAN to create an hybrid, i suppose it means that a pure alien and a human can't have children the natural way.

And about Zan being 100 % human ? so ? that's one of the most stupid idea the show had, because both Tess and Max have powers from their human sides, their powers are human powers. In my opinion, it means that his cells are humans, but it doesn't mean he won't have powers later on.If he uses his powers in the future and he is caught and examined, the doctors will think of a mutation, not of aliens, since he is human.

Yes, i agree with you, Nacedo not seeing the button in Wittaker's back is a chad, unless of course he was having an affair with her for a reason, like he knew who she was and wanted to keep an eye on her. That or the skins have mindwarping abilities !!!

Posted 01-09-2003 11:47 AM by PrometheusUFO
It's going to become harder for me to find the upcoming Roswell books on SimonSays.com. I usually just visited the site, searched "Roswell", and got 36 results. Now, I go there and get 8... Those are the only books that actually have Roswell in the listed title. Ugh.

Posted 01-09-2003 11:58 AM by PrometheusUFO
I just found a description for Quarantine on Buy.com:

In Quarantine, Roswell's new pharmaceutical company, Meta-chem, accidentally infects the townspeople with a disease, and Liz is one of them. Liz is dying -- and Max finds he is powerless to help her. Meanwhile a mysterious girl shows up in town, and it turns out she means more to Maria than she could even have thought possible.

Posted 01-09-2003 07:03 PM by black widow
hmmm ... sounds interesting! and again with the continuity from the books -- liking that. can't wait to read this one! i wonder who the girl tied to maria is? i'm thinking maybe a half-sister through her father, or something? hmmm ...

Posted 01-09-2003 07:04 PM by Maizli
Wow, Quarantine sounds cool.

I think in the show Nasedo said the shapeshifters do not have any humaness in them. The reason he needed Michael for the hand print was because of Michael's human bone structure. I don't think shapeshifters can have kids the human way. There are no human organs in them.

Posted 01-09-2003 08:34 PM by greenjetta
I'm reading Dreamwalk now and so far so good. I guess Quarantine sounds OK. Does anyone know if there will be any books that take place post Graduation?

Posted 01-10-2003 03:07 AM by xmag

quote:Originally posted by greenjetta:I'm reading Dreamwalk now and so far so good. I guess Quarantine sounds OK. Does anyone know if there will be any books that take place post Graduation?

I don't know, some say there will be. Before the first novel was published, the deal was for 8 books (i had read that somewhere), and right now, here are the titles of these books :

Will this 8th book be a post graduation one ? you have to admit that the title is intriguing. And on the previous thread, someone posted info about a 9th book, "Nightscape", and that there is a contract being discussed about more Roswell books.

Posted 01-10-2003 10:10 AM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by xmag:I don't know, some say there will be. Before the first novel was published, the deal was for 8 books (i had read that somewhere), and right now, here are the titles of these books :

I think that the 8-book deal is Shades and on, when the series was said to been "restarted". Andy Mangels is saying on his site that he's currently writing another Roswell novel called "Pursuit" and is in talks to write even more. He later said in an e-mail reply that Pursuit was Part 1 of a 2-Part story. This was all originally posted in the first thread.

quote:Pocket Books is relaunching the Roswell book line this Fall for at least eight bimonthly paperbacks. Myself and my co-writer, Michael A. Martin will be writing the second of those books (and possibly more), set between the second and third seasons. Our book is called Roswell: Skeletons in the Closet, and it offers something not only for longtime Roswell fans, but SF and UFO fans in general.

Although no deals have been finalized, there has been talk of the books shifting to post-Season Three, continuing the characters from the end of the Roswell TV series. This has been done to good effect in Pocket's Deep Space Nine series (for which Michael and I just finished a book), which is running the "eighth season" in its books now.

quote:Originally posted by black widow:i, too, think michael and maria seem to be the most realistically portrayed, but i'm honestly beginning to reconsider that opinion for the book series. the arguing is getting very old, very fast, and it's a consistent theme throughout almost all of the books. didn't someone on the old thread say mel odom, when contacted, had been told by the publishers to push the M/M arguing in his book? why on earth is that? fun, feisty bantering

Well who is in control of these new books, and are they trying to keep some sort of story line between the books?

Posted 01-13-2003 05:36 PM by AlexEvans
Between 2 and 3.

After 3.

Why do the #@(*$(s hate us so much?

It isn't Roswell if it doesn't have the original characters. I hate that they call it that. And there is NOTHING for the fans of the show, or the original books, in what they're doing.

Posted 01-13-2003 07:45 PM by greenjetta
I really hope we get some post "Graduation" stories, I still feel like there was so much more story for them to tell.

Posted 01-13-2003 08:52 PM by black widow
darkangel24147 -- if you look at the very first post of this thread, there's a link to prometheusUFO's excellent site which gives info for/about each book. check it out!

prometheus -- interesting that he calls it "relaunched." what does that mean for the books prior to 'shades', i wonder? where are they supposed to fit in? i mean, it isn't like from 'shades' onwards there's been any sort of grand chronology or continuity ... all the books do seem to be set in the summer in between seasons 2 and 3 (which is another reason it annoys me so much that they have M&M constantly arguing ... do these authors not remember HOW michael and maria's relationship ended up at end of the second season finale? to say they were getting along, er ... *well* would be an understatement! but all of a sudden, that's lost in a haze of redundant arguing, and max and liz, who ended the season kind of raggedy because of the whole tess thing, are reasonably okay with each other ... it drives me mad, as a reader!) but that's where the similarity ends. i mean, it isn't like they're all telling one big story from one book to the next, so i don't quite understand the whole relaunched thing. huh.

jabberwocky (long time no see!) -- i would presume the publishing company has control over the books. it certainly isn't jason katims, that's for sure. as i said, i'm not exactly sure there's meant to be a story line from one to the next ... if there is, i'm not seeing it, that's for sure!

greenjetta -- don't know for sure, but with a title like 'new beginning', it might be possible we do get *some* books beyond season 3? fingers crossed! like you, i think there could be some great stories to be told there.

alexevans -- do you mean it isn't the same because alex isn't in them? i know. i miss him too. i'm still hoping they'll find a way to resurrect him somehow ... isabel talking to his ghost isn't the same thing at all.

Posted 01-13-2003 11:17 PM by Maizli
I'll take Alex any way I can get him. I so miss the character. I loved seeing him in the pilot on Sci Fi.

Posted 01-14-2003 09:38 AM by Writergal
I have to say I think you're right, Fi, regarding who has control over the books. It would be the publishing company. Fox presumably bought the rights to the television show and characters so I'm sure they have a piece of the pie.

Posted 01-14-2003 09:55 AM by PrometheusUFO
Over on SimonSays.com, they fixed that 'search results' problem I mentioned, and added Kevin Ryan as the author of "A New Beginning". He was previously listed as the author of "Nightscape", the next book after "A New Beginning". Here's the listings for all upcoming books currently listed on the site:

quote:Originally posted by black widow:...jabberwocky (long time no see!) -- i would presume the publishing company has control over the books. it certainly isn't jason katims, that's for sure. as i said, i'm not exactly sure there's meant to be a story line from one to the next ... if there is, i'm not seeing it, that's for sure!...

Hey BW: Yeah it has been quite sometime. I can thank school for that. and teh second semester has only just started. As for the books, well it figures. Its more or less like that for the Doctor Who books. Which is the reason I stopped buying the new adventures of DW.

Well I better head out I got to get up early

Posted 01-16-2003 08:08 PM by Maizli
I just wish there was a little overlap, that way there is forward movement in storylines.

Posted 01-17-2003 01:31 AM by jabberwocky
One of the biggest problems with book publisher to day is that they are become more like tv networks. If the writer doesn't write what the publisher want then you don't get printed. Gone are the days when writers had enough control to write a good story with vision, and imagination. Hello sci-fi books written like romance novals.

Posted 01-17-2003 05:18 PM by PrometheusUFO
Barnes & Noble.com now lists a May 2nd release date for "A New Beginning".

[ 01-17-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 01-17-2003 11:58 PM by shapeshifter
I'm reading Melinda Metz' Fingerprints series right now. They have the same feel of a books written from the author's heart as the original Roswell books she wrote. One of the new Roswell books is also by Metz, isn't it?

Posted 01-18-2003 08:22 PM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:One of the new Roswell books is also by Metz, isn't it?

Actually, Laura J. Burns has written the next Roswell book out next month, titled "Quarantine". She also co-wrote Roswell High & Fingerprints. She just wasn't credited.

Posted 01-20-2003 03:49 PM by xmag
Since Laura Burns has written the next novel, Quarantine, are you as intrigued as i am ? i mean, the other books were rather focused on sci-fi, but here we have one of the original authors, and in the Roswell High serie, there was more emotion, sensuality, feeling of love between the characters.

And since the two main characters seem to be Liz and Maria, dare we hope about a more "Roswell High" ambiance (love, kisses, emotions) instead of a "Roswell à la Star Trek" ?

Posted 01-20-2003 10:50 PM by Writergal

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:I'm reading Melinda Metz' Fingerprints series right now. They have the same feel of a books written from the author's heart as the original Roswell books she wrote. One of the new Roswell books is also by Metz, isn't it?

The Fingerprints series rocked.

That's all I have to say.

Posted 01-23-2003 02:55 AM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by xmag:Since Laura Burns has written the next novel, Quarantine, are you as intrigued as i am ? i mean, the other books were rather focused on sci-fi, but here we have one of the original authors, and in the Roswell High serie, there was more emotion, sensuality, feeling of love between the characters.

And since the two main characters seem to be Liz and Maria, dare we hope about a more "Roswell High" ambiance (love, kisses, emotions) instead of a "Roswell à la Star Trek" ?

I like Roswell's sci-fi aspects more myself. But, I do like a mix between the two though.

Posted 01-25-2003 11:09 AM by Maizli
I like the sci fi slant myself. But when it is seamlessly mixed with angsty emotional stuff, that is the best kind of Roswell, at least for me.

Posted 01-25-2003 11:45 AM by black widow
quite right, robyn -- the fingerprints series did rock! though i never did get to read the last book, so i never found out how it all ended (i have a pretty good idea, though.) but the concept for the series was very cool.

as for getting the perfect roswell 'blend' ... i agree! sci fi mixed with angsty emotional stuff works for me every time. and as long as michael and maria aren't written stereotypically, i'm a happy reader!

Posted 01-25-2003 08:49 PM by shapeshifter

quote:Originally posted by xmag:Since Laura Burns has written the next novel, Quarantine, are you as intrigued as i am ? i mean, the other books were rather focused on sci-fi, but here we have one of the original authors, and in the Roswell High serie, there was more emotion, sensuality, feeling of love between the characters.

And since the two main characters seem to be Liz and Maria, dare we hope about a more "Roswell High" ambiance (love, kisses, emotions) instead of a "Roswell à la Star Trek" ?

Laura created the characters, so it will be interesting to see how they relate in the new book.

Laura: It was perfect because I could hire Melinda and we could keep working together, which was great and, I think, just good timing. It was perfect for both of us.

Melinda: Then together we fleshed out the individual plots for the books--although Laura had all the initial stuff. But we got to do what we used to do, which is sit around and brainstorm and figure out stuff together, which is fun....

Posted 01-26-2003 12:35 AM by shapeshifter
Thanks for the heads up, PrometheusUFO!I like how they say, "No one has submitted a review yet - be the first to react!" below the book picture. IMAGE: www.simonsays.com/assets/isbn/0689855192/C_0689855192.jpg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Has anyone else noticed that in Skeletons In The Closet nearly every line is directly from either the show or the message board discussions? It's kind of cool, but also a little obsessive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[ 01-26-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 01-26-2003 02:44 AM by black widow
well yeah, i did notice that ... but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book any -- in fact, it enhanced it, because it was the most 'realistic' and true to life of all the books, i thought.

quarantine comes out soon! yay! i'm really looking forward to this one, because i think if anyone has a really good grasp of the characters and plot, it would be laura burns.

Posted 01-26-2003 10:22 AM by Maizli
I can't wait for Quarantine either. What is that behind Max and Liz? It looks intriguing.

Posted 01-26-2003 12:52 PM by black widow
i think it's a blown up version of a scientist in a quarantine suit ... you know, like what they wore at the end of E.T., going into elliot's house?

Posted 01-28-2003 10:50 AM by nightshadow
Looking forward to reading Quarentine. I wish they could pump them out once a month.

Posted 01-28-2003 02:35 PM by PrometheusUFO
It's the Bio-Hazard logo behind them on the cover:

Hi, I don't usually post here, but I found this cover yesterday, and I thought I'd post it here, it looks like a book set after the Season 3 Finale!!

Posted 01-29-2003 08:22 PM by Eidolon14
Yeah. Alex is no where to be seen on the cover.

Posted 01-31-2003 04:47 AM by PrometheusUFO
Anyone else notice that "Beginning" is mispelled on that cover?

I hope it's fixed before printing.

[ 01-31-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 01-31-2003 09:06 AM by SnappleGirl
Hey guys... i was wondering if someone could help me out...Ok.. i know the melinda metz series is pre-tv show... but what about the other books... what season are they set in and will there be any books written for after Graduation season 3??

Thank you guys

Posted 02-01-2003 10:52 PM by greenjetta
It would be nice to have some stories that take place after Graduation. And, I hope they fix that typo before it goes to print

Posted 02-01-2003 11:55 PM by shapeshifter

quote:Originally posted by SnappleGirl:Hey guys... i was wondering if someone could help me out...Ok.. i know the melinda metz series is pre-tv show... but what about the other books... what season are they set in and will there be any books written for after Graduation season 3??

Thank you guys

It looks to us on this thread like New Beginninng [sic] is post Season 3. But be sure to check out Prometheus' Roswell books digest to see where the other books fall.

"An intriguing cat and mouse story that leave the reader breathless as the book speeds to an intense finale"..APNews

"A magnificent thriller, so clever in its plotting that you cannot stop reading. So frighteningly realistic that you simply have to believe...can't wait to see the movie"..Mid American News

Book DescriptionRoswell One is a mystery, with a little sci-fi flair, that involves an Indian family living in the New Mexico desert during the Los Alamos atom bomb testing and later the infamous Roswell UFO incident. This mystery does not come to light until 50 years later when all sorts of cover-ups start to surface and then to entangle matters even more the US Government enlists the help of a covert agent to help make all of these matters disappear. In the book, Grady has created a character who will be serialized in Grady's next two books. This is a character you will want to follow!

About the AuthorGrady Lee Bryant, Professional Race Car Driver turned writer, has been published several times on motor sports subjects. He has now shifted gears to write about his youthful experiences in the New Mexico desert where he was privileged to many legendary stories from the native Indians. Grady's adventurous lifestyle and travels are blended into each chapter of his books making the reader feel like they are living the experiences. He now lives and writes in Texas with his wife, Jan.

Posted 02-10-2003 04:19 AM by PrometheusUFO
Wow. This is a first. Quarantine is also being released in eBook format:

Posted 02-11-2003 02:30 PM by greenjetta
When does Quarantine officially come out, and when are the next books due to come out?

Posted 02-11-2003 03:59 PM by shapeshifter
BN.com sent me an email yesterday saying my Quarantine and Roswell One shipped yesterday.Amazon may still not have it yet--they didn't when i ordered from B&N not more than a week ago.

Posted 02-11-2003 04:04 PM by Laulaleela
Hey guys, my fave Roswell book that ive read so far has got to be 'Loose ends' i thought that book was way kool what with the flashbacks to the shooting in the crashdown and all. I havent read many of the books though

Posted 02-13-2003 09:20 PM by greenjetta
I ordered my copy of "Quarantine" from buy.com because it was $4.73 vs. $5.99 but I got an e-mail from them saying that it's not expected to be instock until March 1. They may be cheaper but they don't seem very reliable

Posted 02-13-2003 10:12 PM by Dommie

quote:Originally posted by greenjetta:I really hope we get some post "Graduation" stories, I still feel like there was so much more story for them to tell.

Greenjeta do you read any fanfiction? i have a really good one that someone recommend to me that is post Graduation. not very long.

OTHERWISE WHENS A NEW BOOK coming out...dreamwalkers was the last one at that was in December or November wasn't it..and this thread earlier stated bimonthly books....

ooh! thanks for that, i'll have to go check the local bookstores and see if it's in stock yet. i'm going on holiday next week and could use a little light reading for the plane!

Posted 02-15-2003 04:05 PM by shapeshifter
Crashdown's latest poll asks about the books, and it looks like more than 20% of those posting have not read any of the books:

Quote:

Which element from the books (Metz series and others) would you have liked to see in the TV series? (Thanks to slgn* )

Isabelle's obsessive-compulsive habits.....120 (11.48%)

Michael having a brother (alien).....180 (17.22%)

Liz & Max communicating through the dreamscape.....301 (28.80%)

The gang confronted with the man who shot Liz at the Crashdown.....135 (12.92%)

Gandarium crystals affecting the Roswell townspeople.....39 (3.73%)

I haven't read any of the books.....229 (21.91%)

None of the above.....41 (3.92%) TOTAL.....1045 (100.00%)

[ 02-15-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 02-15-2003 04:48 PM by black widow
nope ... no 'quarantine' in canadian bookstores yet! i guess it was more wishful thinking on my part. i'll check back at my local chapters in a couple of weeks.

meanwhile, i have another fandom book related dilemma: to pre-order the fifth harry potter book (which would ensure i'd get a copy but it would take time to arrive), or to queue up at midnight at my local chapters on june 21st (which would ensure i'd get it immediately, but it might sell out). ah, decisions, decisions ...

Posted 02-16-2003 12:12 AM by Roswell_Creeker
hey guys i just finished reading dreamwalk and i was left kinda puzzled..maybe it's just me but i totally didn't understand the ending! can someone explain it to me?

Posted 02-16-2003 10:55 AM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by black widow:meanwhile, i have another fandom book related dilemma: to pre-order the fifth harry potter book (which would ensure i'd get a copy but it would take time to arrive), or to queue up at midnight at my local chapters on june 21st (which would ensure i'd get it immediately, but it might sell out). ah, decisions, decisions ...

Same here. I have no idea which way to go, though I MAY end up pre-ordering on Amazon.

Posted 02-16-2003 07:58 PM by shapeshifter

quote:Originally posted by Roswell_Creeker:hey guys i just finished reading dreamwalk and i was left kinda puzzled..maybe it's just me but i totally didn't understand the ending! can someone explain it to me?

I think it's vague on purpose. It could imply that Kyle's mother was an alien, I suppose. Or it could be pointing to some psychological empathy on Isabel's part--that she became orphaned the same time Kyle lost his mom, and so helping him with his inner 'demons' might be a clue to her own inner healing.

Posted 02-16-2003 11:06 PM by black widow
prometheus, i think i'm gonna go to the bookstore in person. i'll just get there at like, 12 pm, and hang around for 12 hours ... no, seriously, i've waited this long, i refuse to wait a single day longer than june 21 and i don't trust canada post to deliver anything on time. so i'll pull an all nighter at the bookstore and line up -- i've done it for concert tickets before, so this isn't much different!

can't wait to read quarantine or hear someone else's review if they get it first!

Posted 02-16-2003 11:18 PM by shapeshifter
black widow, I am hoping Quarantine will arrive Tuesday, but I'm not holding my breath either. Saturday I got that book, Roswell One, that I ordered to ship with Quarantine. A note said Quarantine was shipping separately. Monday here is a postal holiday (I think). But as soon as it arrives, I'll be sure to let y'all know here.

btw, so far, Roswell One is very poorly edited, poorly typeset, and the plot is a bit rambling too. Plus it has more of an X-Files than Roswell feel.

Editing to add: Roswell One is so poorly written that I don't know how it ever got published. Obviously the author wrote it in present tense with major punctuation errors, and then someone changed about two thirds of it to past tense (but not the exciting parts of the story where the "editor" got too interested to edit) and left a lot of punctuation errors. Plus, all thoughts of the characters are in quotes as if they were spoken out loud (like when we wrote stories in grade school). Also, there was a poorly drawn character introduced in the beginning who disappears from the plot without a trace about a third of the way through. I guess the character was so awfully constructed that she imploded.

[ 02-18-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 02-17-2003 01:59 AM by Jaina Solo
New cover:

IMAGE: images.amazon.com/images/P/0689855214.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Posted 02-17-2003 06:33 PM by greenjetta
That looks like the house from the movie "Psycho" in the backround of the cover

Posted 02-20-2003 06:06 AM by nikara

quote:Originally posted by greenjetta:That looks like the house from the movie "Psycho" in the backround of the cover

quote:I've been trying to get the attention of the webmasters at Crashdown.com for months now, but none of them ever return emails. Too bad, as it would have been a nice bit of news for them to report here. Anyone know why the webmasters are not responding to emails?

There are indeed many more Roswell books forthcoming, and at least four of them are post-series novels. I know this because I am co-writing two of them (my first co-written Roswell book, Skeletons in the Closet, came out late last year). If you want to know more about the adventures of your favorite Roswellians. . . and where they went beyond the series, here's a list of the non-Metz books - already released and upcoming.

Posted 02-20-2003 09:05 PM by greenjetta
Thanks for that update, it'll be nice to read some post-series stories.

Posted 02-20-2003 09:09 PM by PrometheusUFO
I might as well post this back cover description for Quarantine from SimonSays.com as well. It has a bit more info on the plot.

quote:No One Is Safe.

There's a new corporation in town -- Meta-chem -- and Liz is psyched to land a scholarship program working in the lab. But when the giant pharmaceutical company creates a disease that accidentally infects the town, Liz is among the first to fall ill -- and, despite his powers, Max is unable to heal her.

There's also a new girl in town, Sadie, who's come to Roswell searching for her half sister, who she believes is Maria. Maria doesn't know how to feel: what if she and Sadie do share a father? Maria hasn't seen him since she was seven years old, and she's not sure she wants to see him now. but when news of the quarantine breaks, Maria has no choice but to keep Sadie with her in town, all while trying to find out who is sick and whether anyone can be saved in time....

Posted 02-21-2003 11:02 AM by GregKeithB
Hello all. I'm a brand new Roswell fan. Watched my first episode (Heatwave) on January 21 on SciFi. I have since downloaded and watched all 61 episodes, finishing with Graduation yesterday. Now, I'm a little confused on the books. I don't think I want to read any of the books that started the series because that would be kind of going backwards. I'll probably start with the new series starting with "Shades" even though it won't completely jive with the TV series. Now, my question is, when Andy Mangels says book 5 and on is "post series", what exactly does that mean? Does that mean that book 5 picks up exactly where "Graduation" left off? Help me please. I've become addicted to Roswell and would love to read more, but only if it was close to how the series left off.

Posted 02-21-2003 02:55 PM by IloveMGuerin
where did you go to download the episodes?

Posted 02-21-2003 03:09 PM by PrometheusUFO
And now Andy has revealed more on who shows up in the books:

quote:> From: Aledo Opie <crypticshapeshifter>> I certainly appreciate the information... but I don't greet the making of > so-called "Roswell" novels that continue after season 3 with happiness.> If they're going to call it Roswell, they should at least have the main six > characters.> Wow, no clue where you're getting THAT information. Exactly where did you get that from?

As for -Roswell: A New Beginning by Kevin Ryan (May 2003) (Relaunch 5, post-series)Roswell: Nightscape by Kevin Ryan (June 2003) (Relaunch 6, post-series)Both books feature all six of the main characters, as well as a returning guest-star or two from the series. And I can confirm that Ryan is a Roswell fan.

Our two books:Roswell: Pursuit by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin (August 2003) (Relaunch 7, post-series)Roswell: Turnabout by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin (October 2003) (Relaunch 8, post-series)Not only feature all six of the main characters, but everybody's parents, Jesse, Brody Davis, the Dupes, the Special Unit, Langley, and other returning characters from every season of the show.

Those who have read our Roswell: Skeletons in the Closet (Relaunch 2) book may recall that not only did we have LOTS of continuity references to the series, but we also answered some hanging questions. We're very clearly fans of the series, and take our role in writing books for the fans very seriously.

Again, not sure why you thought the post-series books wouldn't have the main characters. Exactly what would be the point of that?

Posted 02-21-2003 04:16 PM by GregKeithB
I downloaded them from KaZaA. You have to go to Kazaa.com and download their software. You need to have a high-speed internet connection, not dial-up.OK, getting back to the books. I think I'm catching on, but still a little confused. What I'm hearing is that book number 5 (A New Beginning) would be a good place to start reading if I want to keep up with the series. What about books 1 thru 4? Do I need to read them to understand book 5? Sorry if I sound so stupid. I just loved the TV series to death and although there are some things that I would have done differently, I want to keep up with the same story line. Advise please. Start with 1 or 5?

Greg

[ 02-21-2003: Message edited GregKeithB ]

Posted 02-21-2003 05:30 PM by shapeshifter
GregKeithB, welcome to our world. Yes, like Prometheus said, you would want to start with the yet-to-be published, so-called Roswell #5: A New Beginning, if your goal is to pick up where the show left off. However, the other TV tie-in books are like episodes you didn't see, taking place in between others. Maybe Prometheus or someone would like to make a chart of the tie-in books showing how they fall in relation to the the episodes. For example, Dream Walk takes place after Tess leaves, but before the end of Season 3 when she returns. I'm not sure if it could be pinpointed more precisely.

That said, I have to recommend the Metz books because they are good.

Posted 02-21-2003 06:05 PM by GregKeithB
Thanks alot. You've definitely helped. I think I will probably get 1 thru 4 to read until 5 is out. I can't just not read or watch any Roswell. I'm addicted. I guess reading something sort of older is better than reading nothing at all. Thanks again.

Greg

Posted 02-22-2003 10:51 AM by Algieba
I have read all the Melinda Metz books and all the post-TV show books. I have students in my middle school classes who are reading the same books. One of their assignments is to compare print with non print media. Some of them have chosen Roswell because they love watching the show on the SciFi Channel. Once they start the books, they get hooked and can't stop. The books are more appropriate for their age group too. So a whole new group of teenagers are getting hooked on Roswell.

I liked Skeletons in the Closet by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin. It delves into their past origins. One thing I'm curious about is the ending where Max is talking to Jolene Skarrstin about her daughter, Tess. When Max tell Skarrstin that Tess went bad, Isabel defends Tess saying, "....Tess made some bad choices. But she wasn't evil. She did what she had been trained to do by the person who had raised her."

Later after talking with Skarrstin and getting to know a little about her, the author says about Max, "....he suddenly realized , some of his long-festering ill will toward Tess now seemed to be evaporating....thanks to the essential decency of Tess's genetic template."

Max discovers he likes Skarrstin and is impressed with her loyalty toward her friends. He says, "I'm glad you're someone who takes such good care of her friends." He thinks to himself, "Maybe her loyalty proves that Isabel is right about Tess. Maybe Tess really isn't evil. At least not all the way to the core."

The scene ends with Skarstin alone thinking to herself, "I have a daughter. I have a grandson....But they're both light-years away from me."The book was published by Simon Pulse in November, 2002 so we had already seen the TV ending with Tess coming back and supposedly dying. Does this mean that the authors wrote the book before they knew the TV ending? I know they finish the books long before they are actually printed but from May to Novemeber is a pretty big time gap.

Or are the authors trying to take this in a different direction with Tess somehow still being alive and not being considered as evil as the TV show made her appear to be? If there are going to be post Graduation novels, does anyone think Tess is going to appear in any of them? Perhaps meeting Skarrstin, her mother from Earth. Or, will Skarrstin ever see her grandson,Zan?

Posted 02-22-2003 08:00 PM by Algieba
I sent an email to Andy Mangels this morning and I heard back this afternoon. I asked him pretty much what I asked in my last post. The information he sent back is a little more specific about the Dupes.

He copied this portion of my email back to me.

I have read all the books about Roswell and have stocked my middle school classroom library with the books. Teenagers love the stories and so do I. My favorite so far is Skeletons in the Closet because of all the information about where they came from and the way the subject of Tess is treated.

He wrote back:

This is really fantastic. Thanks for letting us know. It's important to us that kids AND adults read the books. We tried to make sure that they weren't "dumbed down" for kids, as some authors might.

As for Tess, she won't appear in any of the post-Season Three books because the licensors consider her dead. However, our two books definitely deal with the aftermath of her actions in the end, AND a certain Tess Dupe named Ava (as well as the other two Dupes) plays a major role. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at her actions. And though there is a bit more violence in the books due to the actions of the Special Unit, it's nothing that couldn't be shown on primetime.

quote:Originally posted by Algeiba:...The scene ends with Skarstin alone thinking to herself, "I have a daughter. I have a grandson....But they're both light-years away from me."The book was published by Simon Pulse in November, 2002 so we had already seen the TV ending with Tess coming back and supposedly dying. Does this mean that the authors wrote the book before they knew the TV ending?...

I think the main point is that the book's story takes place before the characters have seen Tess return, and before Max gives up baby Zan.

If the students can be made to understand the distinction between what the author knows and what the characters know, it might give them some insight the nature of things in general.

Dream Walktakes place in the same time frame.

I've read all the books too, and I think the Metz books are better "literature" for middle school students than the TV tie-ins. But, hey, if they want to read them, encourage it! At least they have proper sentence structure and punctuation--unlike that horrible Roswell One book I actually bought. Metz' Fingerprints series is good too.The Metz' books have strong characterizations to which the middle schoolers should be able to relate. Of the TV tie-ins, I think Dream Walk is the strongest in that respect, although it might be a little too deep for some.

[ 02-22-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 02-23-2003 12:24 AM by TDL

quote:Originally posted by GregKeithB:OK, getting back to the books. I think I'm catching on, but still a little confused. What I'm hearing is that book number 5 (A New Beginning) would be a good place to start reading if I want to keep up with the series. What about books 1 thru 4? Do I need to read them to understand book 5? Sorry if I sound so stupid. I just loved the TV series to death and although there are some things that I would have done differently, I want to keep up with the same story line. Advise please. Start with 1 or 5?

Greg

[ 02-21-2003: Message edited GregKeithB ]

My advice: read them all! The Melinda Metz books are wonderful, in some ways better than the others, but don't expect things to be the same as in the show. And you should definitely also read Loose Ends, No Good Deed and Little Green Men. Loose Ends seems to take place in some sort of continuity that doesn't exist, but I just look at it as an alternate season 2 and then I can enjoy it. The other two take place in the real season 2. Enjoy!

Posted 02-24-2003 10:18 AM by greenjetta
I've tried to read the earlier books by Melinda Metz and have found that I like the TV version much better. I guess I just got used to the actors versions of the characters. I'm not saying that her books were bad, I just prefer the TV show to the books. I'm sure a few others do to

Posted 02-24-2003 11:15 AM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by greenjetta:I've tried to read the earlier books by Melinda Metz and have found that I like the TV version much better. I guess I just got used to the actors versions of the characters. I'm not saying that her books were bad, I just prefer the TV show to the books. I'm sure a few others do to

I read the first five Roswell High books first, beginning about a year before the TV series started. Yet I prefer the TV series versions as well. The original Roswell High #1 had a picture inside the cover of the book versions of the characters. They're so different.

Posted 02-24-2003 04:52 PM by AlexEvans
Does anyone know if it's true what they say, that they have the main six characters? Or are they pretending that they can substitute someone for Alex?

Posted 02-24-2003 05:09 PM by shapeshifter
AlexEvans, In Graduation, when Maria makes her choice to go with them, Max says, "So now there’s six." This would be Max, Michael, Kyle, Liz, Isabel, and Maria. So maybe that's the "six" to which they are referring. But in the Metz books, Alex does come back from an alien abduction, and then Max came back from the dead at the end of Season 3, so maybe Alex can return too?

Posted 02-24-2003 05:34 PM by AlexEvans
Kyle isn't one of the six main characters, although I fear you're right that they're trying to pass him off as one. (I have no objection to Kyle being one of the main characters, as long as they have the original six... Kyle is great too.)

But you're right, they could bring Alex back. I'll cross my fingers, and keep an eye on these threads. (I have no interest in reading 'Roswell' without my favorite characters.)

Posted 02-24-2003 07:21 PM by GregKeithB
The way I see it, the main six would be the six that left in the van.

Posted 02-24-2003 07:55 PM by AlexEvans
You can no more replace Alex with Kyle, than you could replace Liz with Kyle.

Roswell is about Alex and Isabel, Michael and Maria, Max and Liz. That's what the original books were about, that's what the show was about while it was good. Each character appealing most to different people. Each couple exploring a different facet of human/alien relationships, a different form of love, and a different team in the face of danger.

Adding Kyle and Tess worked fine... you can add to that formula... but when you take anyone away it just isn't Roswell any more. It doesn't have the feel. All the other characters are changed by the absence of any one. It just doesn't work.

Posted 02-24-2003 10:51 PM by shapeshifter
Watching MITC today, I was wondering if they would bring Ava back in the books. Then I started thinking of a Kyle/Ava match because Kyle/Tess worked. But then I realized that would never do.

Posted 02-25-2003 11:46 AM by greenjetta
Here's a really stupid question, AlexEvans which episode is your sig from? I can't for the life of me remember where I've heard that from

shapeshifter -- has it arrived yet? have you read it? what do you think?

Posted 02-25-2003 01:18 PM by PrometheusUFO
I always pre-order the new books a few days before the release date. I ordered Quarantine on 2/14 along with the new Dark Angel book to get free shipping. I've already received the Dark Angel book but Quarantine still hasn't shipped.

[ 02-25-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 02-25-2003 01:35 PM by xmag

quote:Originally posted by AlexEvans:You can no more replace Alex with Kyle, than you could replace Liz with Kyle.

Roswell is about Alex and Isabel, Michael and Maria, Max and Liz. That's what the original books were about, that's what the show was about while it was good. Each character appealing most to different people. Each couple exploring a different facet of human/alien relationships, a different form of love, and a different team in the face of danger.

Adding Kyle and Tess worked fine... you can add to that formula... but when you take anyone away it just isn't Roswell any more. It doesn't have the feel. All the other characters are changed by the absence of any one. It just doesn't work.

$

Well, if you expect Alex to come back in the post Graduation books, you are going to be disappointed. He is DEAD. Even Max, who isn't God, can't relive the dead.The post graduation books are going to be about the six remaining Roswellians, and whether you like it or not, it includes, Max,Liz, Michael, Maria, Isabel and Kyle. And Kyle isn't a replacement for Alex, he is his own character.There will be mentions of remaining ALIVE Roswell characters, such as the parents, Jesse, the Dupes. But know that TPTB have control over the books (it must include whoever has the rights, JK, another producer, or Frake, i don't know), and they are the ones who decide. Hell, they even asked a writer to make Michael and Maria fight more !!

Now, if you are not pleased with the way the official books are going, there are still fanfics.

Yes, the original books were about the original 6, but things change. Hell, Liz's last name was Ortecho and had a sister who OD, Alex's last name was Manes, Valenti and son were evil, Max was blonde, Michael had a brother, so had Maria, Liz was attracted to Adam, Tess didn't exist, Michael fell in love with Cameron, Isabel with Nicholas, and Isabel and Alex in the original books were the only couple who didn't work in the end, so....

I regret many things in Roswell, the Max/Tess/Zan thing, Alex's death, Liz a doormat in season 3, Isabel married to an almost stranger less than 6 months after Alex's death, Michael breaking up with Maria over and over again, Courtney, Maria breaking with Michael, Billy, but that's Roswell, and it's separate from the original books.

Posted 02-25-2003 02:22 PM by AlexEvans

quote:Originally posted by greenjetta:Here's a really stupid question, AlexEvans which episode is your sig from? I can't for the life of me remember where I've heard that from

It's actually from a roleplay I was in.

In the original books Alex and Isabel weren't fully together yet - they always took things slow - but Melinda Metz said she imagined them getting together for good in university.

[ 02-25-2003: Message edited AlexEvans ]

Posted 02-25-2003 03:11 PM by greenjetta
AlexEvans thanks, I thought I had really lost it. At least now I know that it was from something you did and not from an actual episode I've seen every single episode, a few times and really thought that I had missed something

Posted 02-25-2003 04:41 PM by shapeshifter
black widow and Prometheus, I just got this email from bn.com:

Despite our efforts, an unexpected delay in shipping the following items [(that is: Quarantine)] has occurred for reasons beyond our control. We hope to receive the merchandise shortly and will ship it to you as soon as possible.

For your convenience, we have provided the details of your order below, and will send an e-mail confirmation when your order ships. If you preferto cancel this part of your order [(I think not!)], you may do so online...For assistance ... or call 1-800-THE-BOOK (1-800-843-2665), 7AM-11PM (ET) / 7 days a week. If you are contacting us from outside the United States, please call 201-272-3651.

I included the numbers in my post, because they can be hard to find on their website, and I thought some of you might need them.So, no, Quarantine isn't out yet. I hope Laura Burns is still into it if it's not done.

I tried writing a scathing review of that horrible Roswell One book that I ordered with Quarantine to get the free shipping, but BN didn't post my review on their site. So I wrote a toned-down bad review, but they haven't deemed it worth to post either. But I found my receipt, and it says I can return it to bn for a refund, which I feel justified in doing since the 3 reviews they have up on their site give it 5 stars. When I got it , it looked like it had been returned once already--kind of creased in the corner.

xmag, your summary of the population of RoswellLand is quite consise and accurate.

Posted 02-25-2003 06:52 PM by AlexEvans

quote:Originally posted by greenjetta:AlexEvans thanks, I thought I had really lost it. At least now I know that it was from something you did and not from an actual episode I've seen every single episode, a few times and really thought that I had missed something

Sorry to confuse you! I don't think I can fit an explanation into the sig space tho.

Shapeshifter that's too bad about the book. But thanks for the warning!

Posted 02-26-2003 09:20 PM by shapeshifter
Good news! BN sent me an email today saying Quarantine has been shipped!

Posted 02-26-2003 09:36 PM by *dreamer*
I noticed one thing in Skeletons. On page 115, Michael is asked if he can vouch for the fact that he never saw Hank again after that night with the gun. Michael says. "Max and Liz can. They came to the trailer and saw the old man blow his top. but they also saw me using my powers..." Liz wasn't there. Isabel was. (Independence Day) Its just a typo but I noticed it.

Posted 02-27-2003 10:08 PM by black widow

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:Good news! BN sent me an email today saying Quarantine has been shipped!

oh, coolness! i can hardly wait for your review! because laura wrote this one, i'm really looking forward to it ... if anyone has a solid grasp of the characters, i think she does. though i found what andy mangels said to be really interesting too, and i'm pleased he's focussing so much on continuity.

don't forget to let us know what you think, shapeshifter!!!

Posted 02-27-2003 10:15 PM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:Good news! BN sent me an email today saying Quarantine has been shipped!

Posted 03-02-2003 04:45 PM by YettaKaren
Made a special B&N run on my way back from Grand Central Station today, luggage and all, and found "Quarantine". I'm a few chapters in to it.

So far, so good. I'm ranking it up there with "Skeletons in the Closet", but there's less backstory. So far it seems like the backstory is focused on the Tess/Antar storyline, as opposed to the countless and somewhat distracting references in "Skeletons in the Closet". And the characters so far seem dead on, which one would hope, given the fact that Laura Burns wrote it. Michael and Maria started off squabbling (one of my pet peeves), but also had a cute scene at his apartment to make up for it. This pretty clearly happens during the 'Busted' timeline over the summer, and seems to jibe okay with that. Max and Liz are together, Kyle is getting some attention, Jesse plays a part, etc.

One beef, though, and I don't know if this will come up or not: same problem I had with Jesse acting as Michael's attorney in Skeletons in the Closet. If Liz really was working for Maris Wheeler at Meta-Chem (and I thought it was spelled Merris, which is less easily confused with 'Maria', but okay), then why don't Max et al know more about the Wheelers come Season 3? Small nitpicks.

And there's actually some moments that strike me as almost *good* writing, something that I don't find much in these books (sorry, it's true, they're at best passable). Some interesting character moments. I don't want to give anything away, but there's definitely angst on all sides. Burns is getting into the characters' emotional lives a bit more than these books usually do, which definitely works to her favor.

One beef (I always have at least one): it seems strange to refer to Jim Valenti as 'Valenti' in a scene at home with Kyle, especially when the scene is written in Kyle's third person POV. (i.e. "Kyle looked over at Valenti and sighed". At least say Jim, if not drop the last name altogether and say 'his dad'...) I complain about that, but I've probably done it myself from time to time.

So far, two uses of the 'b-word'! I was a little surprised, since I thought these books were supposed to be written for younger audiences, but not disappointed. (God only knows I write some of the most profanity-laden Roswell fanfic myself :lol .

Posted 03-02-2003 05:31 PM by black widow
thank you so much for that synopsis! at least i know what to look out for now! i am pleased to see some angst and depth in the characters, as well as getting into their emotional lives. it makes them more three-dimensional. and i think if any of the writers can pull this off, laura can, seeing as they were her characters to begin with! so i'm really looking forward to reading this one. thanks again for the info!

Posted 03-02-2003 06:11 PM by YettaKaren
Okay, all done with the book.

...I don't want to give it away, because the book jacket is very careful not to reveal too much (though it does reveal one thing that I found annoying).

But I think that both Candies AND Dreamers will be pretty happy to see some of the things that happen in this book. Dreamers especially with the last Max/Liz scene in the book (after M/L angst throughout). I think the main plots for each couple (the M/M plot is more of a Maria thing) are things that have been tossed around a lot and addressed in fanfic, and I have the impression that these are things the writers may have wanted to incorporate into the third season and not had time for. But it's nice to see them handled with some sort of canon. It's things that we've all wanted to see happening for ourselves.

The science is pretty shoddy, but then this is Roswell and that's what we've come to expect. I found it even worse because the subject of the science plot - research and genetic diseases - is what I was studying the other week in both of my classes, and I just had exams in both classes, so it's very fresh on my mind. Like I said, we're all used to the fact that Roswell's concept of "science fiction" is not exactly, well, the most stellar example of the genre. So enough of that.

Character work is great. Some very interesting things. A couple of things in the book actually made me almost cry! What? In a Roswell novel? This is the first of the Roswell books to actually have some moments that reached me emotionally. Usually they're very dry on that respect.

Of course the usual criticisms apply - it's still short, the plot at times is reminiscent of other things that happened in the books/show (but at least Burns acknowledges this), it's hard to really conceive of this happening over the summer between the second and third season.

In general, I was disappointed at the super-short length, but otherwise thought this was DEFINITELY the best of the TV-based books. Before this, just for those who missed my posts on the last one, I would have put "Skeletons in the Closet" as my number one, and "Dreamwalk" at the very bottom of my list. Just in case anyone wants to make any decisions based on the content of this review.

Posted 03-02-2003 06:52 PM by black widow
ooh, thanks for all that! i think i'm gonna like this one, as i thought 'skeletons in the closet' was really good, too. i can't wait to read it -- hurry up chapters/indigo and get the bloody thing in!!

Posted 03-02-2003 07:03 PM by Algieba
Thanks, YettaKaren, for the info on the book. I special ordered it at a bookstore because they couldn't tell me exactly what date it would be on the bookshelves.

Your preference for Skeletons in the Closet first and Dreamwalk last is exactly the same as mine. There was some science in SITC but none in DW so maybe that's why I feel that way.

Posted 03-02-2003 07:53 PM by Antarian King
I got two of the Quarantine books at the BAT through the raffle that were signed by Laura J. Burns but I have not had the chance to read them yet so I cant tell you anything about them other than they are setting on a shelf next to all the other books waiting for me to spend a little time with them

Posted 03-03-2003 06:22 PM by PrometheusUFO
I got my copy of Quarantine today. Now I only need to find time to read it. It seems to be the thinnest of the Roswell novels so far. Here's the excerpt from the inner cover:

quote:Liz frowned. "Everything seems loud to me," she murmured. She picked up her ball and walked slowly to the lane. "And way too bright."

As far as Max could tell, the bowling alley was the same as ever. "Maybe you're getting sick?" he suggested.

"I don't think so," Liz said. She halfheartedly tossed the ball down the lane--and it flew in the air for about ten feet before crashing down onto the lane. People turned to stare, but Liz didn't seem to notice. She was gazing down at her hands in confusion.

"Liz, how did you do that?" Max cried, rushing over to her.

"My skin feels funny," she said. "Like there are little ants crawling all over me. But it feels like they're under my skin."

"I think we should get you home," he said. "You've been working really hard this week--you might just be overtired."

Liz shook her head. "Dr. Sosa sent me home early today. I slept all afternoon because I felt strange. I can't be overtired."

thanks for that! i went and checked chapters/indigo today and it still isn't in. *sigh*

and on a brighter note ... only 110 more days til order of the phoenix is out!

Posted 03-06-2003 01:57 AM by PrometheusUFO
I recall someone posting about Micheal & Maria's constant fighting in the latest books... Well, they're actually being affectionate toward each other in Quarantine.

Posted 03-06-2003 06:04 PM by shapeshifter
Okay, I've just finished devouring Quarantine! And I have to agree with YettaKaren--Several pages into the book I thought: hey, this writing is as good as the original Roswell High books--not like the usual TV tie-ins that are, well, just not very good prose. Then I remembered--duh--it's Laura Burns! Yes, the characters are real. Their relationships are real. Their tears are real.But (to paraphrase Scriptures), nevertheless, I have this against the book... (Below are 'spoilers' for those who haven't read the book. But since it's available now, I don't think the Modsshould edit this postS*P*O*I*L*E*R*S**H*E*R*E*The science fiction is soooo sloppy. I mean, since the book makes references to both the show and the other books--why not have them visit the Skeleton In The Closet lady for the blue goo to save the day with a bridge for the alien & human DNA?

And, while I was thrilled that Liz told Max about TEOTW, I was so un-thrilled with the way it was done. I mean, hey, Laura (if you're out there), did you even write that part?

Posted 03-06-2003 11:43 PM by black widow
no worries -- no editing!

oooh, now you've got me all curious to read this! though i know it won't be out in canada for another week or so. *sigh*

i'm very happy to hear michael and maria aren't being stereotypically bickersome. that gets so tired, so fast. i'm glad the characters are portrayed as real, too--i would expect nothing less from laura burns!

can't wait to finally pick this one up!!!

Posted 03-08-2003 02:04 AM by katmcken
I'm new to this board but I have been looking all over from info on the next book after Quarantine, I must say the day I got it I read the whole thing and wanted to hug Laura for writing it.But it left me wanting more and when I couldn't find anything I went nuts, then I remembered this board (have not been on fan forum in a long time)I must thank all of you and hope to post here more now.

Posted 03-09-2003 11:11 AM by Algieba
I've finished reading Quarantine and enjoyed it. It was so short though, it seemed like it was over way too quickly. The longest of the books since Simon Pulse started publishing them is Shades at 250 pages. Quarantine was only 172 pages. Cost the same though.

Skeletons in the Closet is still my favorite. I'm eager to read A New Beginning coming out in May because I have no clue how they're going to handle the traveling around the country in a van part. That would be so limiting. I wanted Liz to get to go to college and Maria to get her musical career going. It would also be great to find out how the end of the world invasion gets started. If anyone hears about any possible return of Alex in the books, either as living or as Isabel's imaginary ghost friend, please post the info here. Thanks.

Posted 03-09-2003 11:19 AM by GregKeithB
I've just started reading the books. I just finished reading Shades and have started reading SITC. So far, I'm really impressed how good they are. I have a question. Do they all tie into each other (Shades thru Quaratine) since they are written by different people? I hope so. I am really looking forward to A New Beginning. I too agree that some of the books don't have enough pages. Shades was great because it had 250 pages. I wish they were all that long.

Posted 03-09-2003 12:21 PM by Algieba
Hi, GregKeithB. I don't think the books are really trying to tie into each other. Each one could stand alone and make sense. The books Dreamwalk and Quarantine do not address the issues brought up in Shades or Skeletons in the Closet.

DW deals with Kyle working out some issues from his past and also Max and Liz helping a child who has some problems.

Q takes place in the summer between S2 and S3 and deals with Maria finding out something about her father. Also, a problem develops in Roswell that everyone is trying to find a solution to. There isn't necessarily any link to the other books but it does deal with some questions that fans have wanted an explanation for, such as how and if Max finds out about Future Max.

I think there will have to be some continuity once A New Beginning comes out because this is whole new territory. They can't have different outcomes when there is not a contiunuing show on TV to do side stories on.

Kevin Ryan is the author of the next two books, A New Beginning and Nightscape. He hasn't written any of the previous Roswell books.

Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin are the authors of Pursuit and Turnabout. Hopefully there will be some continuation of issues brought up in Skeletons in the Closet since they are the authors of that book also.

Posted 03-09-2003 01:03 PM by GregKeithB
Thanks Algeiba. That helps. I understand what you're saying. They are like missing episodes. Thats cool. I understand that starting with A New Beginning, it takes place after the Graduation episode on TV. I'm sure that all the books after that will be based on the aliens and friends touring the country in their beat-up van. Lots of things can still happen. As far as you know, or anybody knows, are there going to be a continueing series of books, after the ones you mentioned, based on this? I certainly hope so.

[ 03-09-2003: Message edited GregKeithB ]

Posted 03-09-2003 02:21 PM by YettaKaren
Quarantine does have a passing reference to the "people turning green" from Little Green Men... I think that's about it, though.

Posted 03-09-2003 05:22 PM by Algieba
On Andy Mangels web page under the heading, Currently Working On, there is this statement that Andy is, ".....currently discussing more Star Trek and Roswell books for Pocket." I think they would only be considering publishing more books if the current ones are selling. As long as the books show a profit, I think there will continue to be new ones.

Posted 03-09-2003 06:35 PM by GregKeithB
I can't imagine any Roswell fan not wanting to read the continueing books. Expecially with a season 4 in serious doubt. I have to get my Roswell fix somehow. Why not in a good book? I sure hope they do good.

Posted 03-09-2003 08:52 PM by Algieba
GregKeithB. Some Roswell fans won't read the books because they are very unhappy with the way the story evolved. They refuse to even watch S3. High on the list of angry fans are the ones who identified strongly with Alex. I liked Alex very much but I wouldn't stop watching the show or reading the books because he's no longer in it.

If you ever read Melinda Metz's 10 volumes that the show was based on, you'll see some differences. Alex was a much more involved character. His father and brothers were in the military and Alex was someone to be reckoned with. He was kidnapped and whisked off to Antar but was not killed. He got back to Earth eventually. That's one reason a lot of fans kept wondering if Alex was really dead.

Another big difference is the story line with Tess. Many fans absolutely hate her but she's one of my favorite characters. She wasn't in the original story. The fans who like Tess aren't left with much. They're going to bring back Ava in the future books but I'm not sure in what way.

I think Metz's books were written more with young adults in mind, setting up problems but not the heartwrenching twists and turns the TV series comes up with. I think it was a mistake on the part of the TV series to get the fans to like a character so much and then eliminate them. A lot of fans feel hurt and betrayed.

The TV series is more realistic. Life is often very painful and has ugly turns, but I don't think Roswell fans wanted the extreme animosity that developed between some of the characters. Look at How the Other Half Lives. The way they all worked together was so heartwarming. Liz and Tess actually hugged when they got Kyle and Alex out of the Gandarium hole. There was a feeling of the whole gang uniting together to solve these life threatening problems. I really like that.

Unfortunately, TV shows have real people acting in them who sometimes move on for one reason or another. Then they have to be written out of the story. Much as I admired the way CYN was presented, I would rather they'd sent Alex to Antar, or really to Sweden and he decided not to come back. Then maybe Colin Hanks could appear in a movie if they ever have one.There are some other things that happen in S3 that are very different from the original story line. I like all the seasons but many fans hated S3 and are done with Roswell because of it. They probably won't be reading any books.

Posted 03-09-2003 10:36 PM by PrometheusUFO
I hope one of the post-S3 books has some mention of what that item was that Micheal stole from the government in the final episodes. I think it was meant to be in the tv series, but UPN kept cutting the episode order, so they cut the story as well.

Posted 03-09-2003 11:26 PM by The Christmas Nazi

quote:Originally posted by Algieba:If you ever read Melinda Metz's 10 volumes that the show was based on, you'll see some differences. Alex was a much more involved character. His father and brothers were in the military and Alex was someone to be reckoned with. He was kidnapped and whisked off to Antar but was not killed. He got back to Earth eventually. That's one reason a lot of fans kept wondering if Alex was really dead.

I this thought ! I have read and re-read the books over and over again . I can't get enough of the Alex/Isabel love in it .

I also liked one part of the Kyle storyline they had . The one with Isabel dreamwalking Kyle . Classic Incrowder moment . But I episode Kyle better than Metz Kyle .

Posted 03-10-2003 10:28 AM by greenjetta
I want to read post season 3 stories. I guess I'm one of the few fans who liked season 3, although I hated how the season/series ended

Posted 03-10-2003 10:50 AM by GregKeithB
I have to agree that I thought S3 was good. There were some eppys I didn't like, but I think thats true with any show. I hated to see Alex die, but from what I heard, Colin Hanks wanted to do more with his career than just a TV series. Wasn't his leaving the show his idea? They can still bring him back as a ghost. Maybe even others besides Isabel can start seeing him. I thought S3 had some good eppys. Its a shame the show had to end, but nows a chance for the books to continue the story. Alex can still be in the books for the Alex lovers. And Ava for the Tess lovers. There are so many stories left untold. I hope the books go on for ever unless the show comes back.

Posted 03-10-2003 03:17 PM by AlexEvans
Greg, it wasn't Colin's idea. He wasn't getting much screentime anyway, so he decided to do a movie as well - like most of his co-stars on Roswell. The producers refused to schedule around the movie or to give him enough screentime on Roswell to make it worth not doing the movie, and wrote him out instead.

I'm not interested in seeing a ghost. It isn't the same thing. It's hard to have the romance back.

I hear some of the books have Jesse. I don't want more of him.

I didn't like any of the main characters in season 3. They weren't themselves. One of my two favorites characters isn't there any more. There's a new character, who I absolutely hate, and not in a love-to-hate way, but in a "I cringe every time he's onscreen" way.

Roswell was about a set of teenagers. Six of them, originally. Then they added more, and that worked. Taking away from the original six made it not really Roswell anymore. If they'd killed off Liz and married Max and Jesse, I'd feel the same way about this.

If they bring back Alex - which they could do in any number of ways - I'll give the books a try.

Until then, I'll stick to fanfic.

Posted 03-10-2003 05:15 PM by GregKeithB
Sorry, I guess I didn't have all my facts about Colin. Its still a shame. With all this funny alien business, you're right, there are ways to bring him back. I've had a few thoughts myself. I wasn't crazy about the Jesse character, but I've learned to live with it. The one character that I for sure DID NOT LIKE was Sean DeLuca. I really hated his character. Hated seeing him with Liz. I'm glad he's out of it. So far, there's no mention of him in the books. Hope it stays that way.

Posted 03-10-2003 08:50 PM by greenjetta
I liked Jesse, I guess I was one of the few who did!

Posted 03-10-2003 11:54 PM by black widow
yeah, i gotta say, he did nothing for me, physically or as a character.

Posted 03-11-2003 04:48 AM by PrometheusUFO
I just thought I would post a reminder for when the next books are set to be released according to Barnes & Noble:

Roswell: A New Beginningby Kevin Ryan - May 2nd

Roswell: Nightscapeby Kevin Ryan - June 10th

Edit: I found this description for A New Beginning at BooksAMillion.com. It's nothing to write home about, but...

quote:Picking up where the television show ended, these new adventures continue the saga of Max, Michael, Isabel, Liz, Maria, and Kyle. As they pile into their van and leave Roswell behind, they are all hoping for something different from most of the events of the past three years.

[ 03-11-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 03-11-2003 06:48 PM by AlexEvans
Actually Prometheus, that description is plenty... it tells me not to touch that book with a ten-foot pole.

Hmm... a couple of things Algeiba said earlier I wanted to chime in agreement with. I liked how they worked together in HTOHL. Also, I would have found them sending Alex off to university or something much more acceptable. (I still wouldn't have enjoyed season 3 if it retained the Jesse character, lack of continuity, lack of drama, etc.)

Posted 03-11-2003 11:06 PM by black widow
i don't know what's worse -- the fact that the book STILL isn't out here yet, or the fact that the kid behind the counter at indigo/chapters looked at me blankly and said "what's roswell?" when i asked about it. *sigh*

Posted 03-12-2003 11:01 AM by shapeshifter
black widow, how devasting! So I guess we are no longer fans of a teen show, we are members of an obscure cult.

I will read the New Beginnings book as soon as it's available and report back as honestly as I can. I'm sure there will be both things I like and things I don't.

Posted 03-12-2003 03:03 PM by ..::Rileybehry::..
I have never read a Roswell book cuz they don't sell them here Are they any good??

Posted 03-12-2003 04:58 PM by GregKeithB
Does anybody know if the Roswell series is continueing after Andy Mangels writes his two (Pursuit & Turnabout)later this year? I can't seem to find anything. I got an email from Andy and he said something about a lot of plot threads will be wrapped up in Turnabout. I hope Turnabout isn't going to be the last book.

Posted 03-12-2003 11:16 PM by black widow
i think the contract was originally for 8 books, no? i haven't heard of anything beyond that book either, but never say never, i guess. perhaps they'll issue a new series dependent on how this one sells. who knows?

Posted 03-12-2003 11:47 PM by Algieba
If you go to www.andymangels.com you will see under the Currently Discussing title,".....currently discussing more Star Trek and Roswell books for Pocket." At least if they're discussing them it means we may get more books. I haven't found any sites for other Roswell authors yet but I'm looking.

Posted 03-13-2003 12:53 AM by TDL
Boy, some people sure are picky. Yes, it's sad that Alex died, but he wasn't even in all the episodes anyway, and when he wasn't I usually didn't even notice. And yes, Season 3 showed us some drastically altered characters, which I wasn't too happy with, but by the episode "Ch-ch-changes" they were all returning to normal. I love the last half of the season, especially "Chant Down Babylon", "Crash", "4 aliens and a baby" and "Graduation". I love how they all rode off into the sunset, so to speak, in the end. Basically, Roswell had it's ups and downs, but I loved every minute of it. I think anyone who is a true fan would agree. I will read all the Roswell books, whether they feature Alex or not, or Jesse or not, Season 1 , Season 2, Season 3, or post-Season 3, whatever. I hope they keep publishing Roswell books for a long time to come.

Posted 03-13-2003 03:25 PM by AlexEvans
Fine TDL, enjoy the books. But realize and accept that many true fans of the real Roswell won't. That we will accept the original core characters, the core of the original series and the first part of the television show, and not the lame mockery and crappy characters that followed.

There aren't many guys like Alex on television, or even in books. There are lots and lots and lots of lawyers (none, admittedly, as utterly boring and annoying as Jesse).

Posted 03-13-2003 03:35 PM by PrometheusUFO
I was a huge fan of Alex too. I felt I was most like him out of all the main characters. Every time I see "Cry Your Name" I tear up a bit.

I still like parts of Season 3 though, especially in the latter half (Jesse not included).

Posted 03-13-2003 11:53 PM by justravis
Can someone tell me which is the first book that the series is based on?

I searched Amazon for Roswell High, but only found books with the TV show characters on them. Typically this means the book is based on the tc show. Not vice versa.

Posted 03-14-2003 12:32 AM by black widow
the very first roswell book (which came before the TV series) is called 'the outsider' and it's by melinda metz. she wrote a series of 10 books, which the current TV show is loosely based on (the character names/relationships yes, the plots, not as much). there are lots of differences between the metz book characters and the TV show characters, though -- liz's last name is ortecha, alex has red hair and four (three?) brothers, liz has a brother, etc.

following the TV show, there have been a series of books based on the TV show characters and canon (including jesse, tess, brody, and all the others we've seen onscreen). the first of these is 'loose ends' by greg cox.

prometheus ufo has a fantastic web page which explains all of this in greater detail -- definitely worth checking out.

Posted 03-14-2003 08:31 AM by AlexEvans

quote:Originally posted by justravis:Can someone tell me which is the first book that the series is based on?

I searched Amazon for Roswell High, but only found books with the TV show characters on them. Typically this means the book is based on the tc show. Not vice versa.

Look for the author to be Melinda Metz. That means it's the original series. They may have pictures of the TV show cast on the latest print run of the original series.

I think #1 was The Outsider, IIRC... anyway, they're numbered.

Posted 03-14-2003 11:09 AM by The Christmas Nazi
I got my book here with me right now .

Posted 03-15-2003 11:15 AM by shapeshifter
Here's one of the original covers showing book-Maria with the curly hair (this edition is out of print): IMAGE: images.amazon.com/images/P/0671023764.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I'm not sure if this is the original of the The Outsider or if it's another incarnation: IMAGE: images.amazon.com/images/P/0671023748.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

This one of The Wild One shows book Isabel looking a lot like tv Isabel: IMAGE: www.geocities.com/shiriappleby/wildone.gif

[ 03-15-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 03-15-2003 09:34 PM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:I'm not sure if this is the original of the The Outsider or if it's another incarnation:

Yes, that's the original. I own all 5 original versions and all 10 tv versions of the books.

I'd like to find a scan of the Outsider's inner cover though. I once had it, but I think I lost it. It's a color picture of how all 6 main characters looked originally.

Also, this was going to be the cover for book 7 until the tv series was picked up: IMAGE: gry.vilandra.net/aura/Images/book7.jpg

[ 03-15-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 03-15-2003 11:13 PM by black widow
funny thing is, i look at these covers, and even though i know they preceded the TV show, i still can't picture these people as the characters ... it just seems so wrong!

even though the melinda metz series was aimed at a more (for want of a better word) juvenile audience than the TV show, and perhaps weren't as sophisticated as the TV show (i.e. no sex, marriage, etc.), and even though the dialogue and plot in several instances just doesn't "fit" with the TV character versions, i still can't picture anyone else but brendan, majandra, colin, nick, katherine, jason, shiri and bill sadler in the melinda metz book roles!

Posted 03-16-2003 01:25 AM by shapeshifter
black widow, Looking closely at these book covers for the first time since Season 1, I realize that "Max" on the cover looks nothing like "Max" in the book. Where are those 'alien blue eyes'? It was hard enough picturing him reading it, but the book jacket doesn't match either. Interesting how he is the one character that doesn't match at all in any of the three versions (tv, book text, and book cover).

Prometheus UFO, Do you have the image for the first version of book 6? And a larger one for The Wild One?

Posted 03-16-2003 03:55 AM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:Prometheus UFO, Do you have the image for the first version of book 6? And a larger one for The Wild One?

IMAGE: gry.vilandra.net/aura/Images/book2.jpg Only book 1-5 were actually released with these original covers. I haven't seen an original version of the book 6 cover, not yet anyway.

Posted 03-16-2003 12:48 PM by AlexEvans

quote:Originally posted by black widow:funny thing is, i look at these covers, and even though i know they preceded the TV show, i still can't picture these people as the characters ... it just seems so wrong!

even though the melinda metz series was aimed at a more (for want of a better word) juvenile audience than the TV show, and perhaps weren't as sophisticated as the TV show (i.e. no sex, marriage, etc.), and even though the dialogue and plot in several instances just doesn't "fit" with the TV character versions, i still can't picture anyone else but brendan, majandra, colin, nick, katherine, jason, shiri and bill sadler in the melinda metz book roles!

Actually, I quite like some of the well-written 'juvenile' SF. Because of the audience, they can't pad their books with poorly written sex scenes, which means you often get more plot and characterization. This applies both to the Metz books and to this other author whose name is on the tip of my tongue... Dianna Wynne Jones I think, although I only read one book by her.

And I think no marriage in a series about high school students is very much a good thing. One marriage was the second or third worst thing done to us by the television series, after all, and the other marriage I found less disturbing, but pointless.

Posted 03-16-2003 05:44 PM by shapeshifter
So, is anyone up to putting names to the faces on the book covers? Liz on The Watcher is obvious. And Maria has the curly hair on the others. But I assumed that was Max with Liz on The Watcher, and now I'm wondering if it's Adam. The guys pics are confusing me.

[ 03-16-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 03-16-2003 05:54 PM by black widow
alexevans -- i agree with you -- i'd rather read something very well written that targets a middle-school (?) audience, than something meant for adults that is written very poorly. 'juvenile', as i indicated in my post, wasn't really the right choice of word there, i just couldn't think of the word i wanted to describe what i meant. anyway, the whole point of my previous post was that it just seems really weird to me to have these "strangers" playing the characters we've come to know on screen!

and for what it's worth ... i thought *both* marriages on the TV show were completely pointless, but i'll nip this discussion in the bud and take it over to roswell1, where it belongs ...

Posted 03-16-2003 07:51 PM by PrometheusUFO
I have a pretty good idea which faces are which characters. Of course, I'm not 100% sure, but...

I knew the characters this way first while starting to read the books, about a year before the tv series started.

Posted 03-16-2003 09:49 PM by shapeshifter

quote:Originally posted by PrometheusUFO:[QB]I have a pretty good idea which faces are which characters. Of course, I'm not 100% sure, but...

The Wild One (2) - Isabel and Alex......The Vanished (7) - Adam and Liz? not sure...

I don't know either, but I'm thinking that on The Wild One the 2 main faces are Isabel and book Nicholas. And since it is Alex who "vanishes," I'm thinking he's on book 7.

Posted 03-17-2003 09:53 AM by The Christmas Nazi
I could never see anyone else play the characters but Katie , Jason and Brendan .

Posted 03-17-2003 04:30 PM by twilliams
ok, just seeing those people on the cover really freaks me out. maybe because the ones i read had the characters from the tv series on them. when i looked at the guy who was portraying max, i thought to myself" where are the blue eyes" that was described in the books. maybe i wasnt looking hard enough.

in these series, i didnt really understand them as much, i had to reread them over and over just to get the messenge out of the books. i guess u can say my fave book is " the watcher. maybe because it was a max and liz moments in those. welll i guess that all for nowlater people

Posted 03-17-2003 07:02 PM by PrometheusUFO

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:I don't know either, but I'm thinking that on The Wild One the 2 main faces are Isabel and book Nicholas. And since it is Alex who "vanishes," I'm thinking he's on book 7.

Well, the male face on The Wild One matches one of the main six that are on the inner cover of the original book 1. Maybe book Nicholas is that face all in shadow? *shrug*

I really like the inner cover picture. The outer cover is cut short on the right side and the inner cover is as thick as the outer cover. It shows all six of the main characters, with Max and Liz in front (of course), in full color. I really wish I could find a scan of it. It's a great picture of them, in my opinion.

[ 03-17-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 03-18-2003 06:57 AM by AlexEvans

quote:Originally posted by black widow:alexevans -- i agree with you -- i'd rather read something very well written that targets a middle-school (?) audience, than something meant for adults that is written very poorly. 'juvenile', as i indicated in my post, wasn't really the right choice of word there, i just couldn't think of the word i wanted to describe what i meant. anyway, the whole point of my previous post was that it just seems really weird to me to have these "strangers" playing the characters we've come to know on screen!

and for what it's worth ... i thought *both* marriages on the TV show were completely pointless, but i'll nip this discussion in the bud and take it over to roswell1, where it belongs ...

I understand what you mean, and I am in full agreement!

Who else is good... some authors I haven't read in years, because I read all their books when I was at the intended age. Monica Hughes. Madeleine L'Engle. CS Lewis. Er I'm pretty far off-topic aren't I?

Interesting discussion of the Roswell High covers, I have nothing to add but that doesn't mean I'm not interested to see what we can figure out about who's on which book!

Posted 03-18-2003 10:14 PM by Algieba
AlexEvans. Since you're off topic, forgive me for one more sort of off topic. I think you would like Ender's Game and it's sequel Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card.They are in the adult and young people's section of book stores because both like them.

The Melinda Metz books keep my middle school students interested. They like the recent books coming out now too.

What I like about the Metz books are the teen themes that don't include getting married so young. Everyone pulling together, aliens and humans, was the best part of the books.

Posted 03-18-2003 11:08 PM by black widow
s'okay ... i don't mind a little OTness, just as long as this doesn't turn into a thread that belongs on the books board.

and i do agree -- it's refreshing to read plots that are a little more innocent (maybe that's the word i was originally looking for, instead of 'juvenile') and showed the group banding together as an ensemble. that element was really strong in the books and i thought it appeared in the TV show throughout season 1, then got sort of lost.

anyway. chapters/indigo STILL hasn't gotten 'quarantine' in yet!! i've checked 3 different locations now! the hell! maybe i'll just have to wait til i go to NYC next month and pick it up south of the border ... *sigh*

Posted 03-19-2003 07:06 PM by AlexEvans
Thanks for the recommendation, Algeiba. All the libraries seem to have the second book, maybe I will pick up the first one. I've heard good things about it before.

On topic... I so love how they had everyone pulling together. It's innocent, perhaps. Idealistic in a way. But more realistic than having people squabble because of extremely contrived situations, which is all too often what happens with 'adult' fiction.

Posted 03-19-2003 08:27 PM by shapeshifter

quote:Originally posted by PrometheusUFO:Well, the male face on The Wild One matches one of the main six that are on the inner cover of the original book 1. Maybe book Nicholas is that face all in shadow? *shrug*

I think you're right, now that I am really looking at the expression on the male face on The Wild One--it is a very fear-filled look, and Nicholas was never afraid. But book Alex had red hair. So maybe it's Michael? Or maybe the artist didn't know about the red hair?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And black widow & others, about the teen marriages--ITA that they would make no sense in the books, or for teens in general, but having just seen Significant Others again on SciFi, I realize that the 'previous lives' combined with the older actors on the show made it more acceptable. And teens do like to think about getting married and imagining themselves doing it. Although Liz hadn't lived a previous alien life in the show, she was 'changed,' and I think she was supposed to be 19 after graduation, which still seems too young these days, but my mother got married at 19, and my grandmother at 16. The voice over at the end just says they "eventually tied the knot," and we don't know when she sent the letter and journal--it could have been a year later. Possible she was closer to at least 20.

Posted 03-21-2003 10:47 AM by The Christmas Nazi

quote:Originally posted by black widow:chapters/indigo STILL hasn't gotten 'quarantine' in yet!! i've checked 3 different locations now! the hell! maybe i'll just have to wait til i go to NYC next month and pick it up south of the border ... *sigh*

Great ... at least I am not the only one . I am dying . Thats the last book I need .

Posted 03-22-2003 10:35 AM by Eidolon14
I went to a B&N once and it seemed as if all the people who worked there knew what Roswell High was. I actually had a discussion with her about Roswell/Buffy. Good times.

And maybe I shouldn't bring this up, but I agree with what Brian said on the last page. It's true. Not a lot of characters, book or TV, are like Alex. The only character that comes close in Xander, but they're not the same either.

Posted 03-22-2003 03:08 PM by BrattyAngel
I've just finished Quarantine. I got it at JFK Airport when I was waiting for my flight back to the UK. So beware - there's no major spoilers or anything but still you should be warned! *lol*

It had the same fluffy cuteness of 'Little Green Men'. It's set in the summer between S2/S3. Meta-Chem have just opened and Liz lands a schloarship there cortesy of Maris Wheeler. Of course she didn't get the job simply because she's a science geek. A certain event two years prior involving 'The Healer' swung it her way just a bit!

And wahey. Liz finally tells Max about Future Max.

The whole Maria and her dad sub-plot was quite touching. And you'll never believe this but there were no major Maria-Michael fights/bickering would you believe!

Also Isabel is with Jesse in this book. There's not a big mention of Alex though other then the whole he was killed by Tess thing. It would of been nice if the characters missed him y'know?

Overall this book was good in the 'juvenille' way. It wasn't too complicated or anything. It's only 172 pages. Even though it was written by Laura J Burns it didn't have the magic of the original books HOWEVER she did bring something to the book and the characters especially Liz and her love for Max.

The thing was this book, the TV series doesn't have the innocence of the original books. There's no innocence in 'I'm-a-eighteen-year-old-dad-who-got-his-mindwarping-killer-girlfriend-pregnant'. It just doesn't work I'm afraid which is a shame. A real shame in my opinion.

Oh and this book mentions 'Little Green Men' and the whole turning green thing which was nice. A bit of consistancy you know. But if I lived in Roswell I would start getting suspicious about two medical emergencies...

If any of you have any quessies about the book - fire away.

Becky

Posted 03-22-2003 09:24 PM by black widow
wow! thank you for the book report, brattyangel! i think i'll like this one ... if i ever get a damn copy of it. *sigh* i've pretty much given up on getting it in canada now, and i figure i'll just snag a copy in NYC next month--but that seems ages away, still!

and i agree--continuity is a very good thing.

Posted 03-22-2003 11:40 PM by shapeshifter
Black Widow, Doesn't bn.com ship to Canada? Or is it just really expen$ive?

Posted 03-23-2003 12:32 AM by M&M's

quote:Originally posted by AlexEvans:Fine TDL, enjoy the books. But realize and accept that many true fans of the real Roswell won't. That we will accept the original core characters, the core of the original series and the first part of the television show, and not the lame mockery and crappy characters that followed.

There aren't many guys like Alex on television, or even in books. There are lots and lots and lots of lawyers (none, admittedly, as utterly boring and annoying as Jesse).

Okay that hurts a little consiering I am a true fan of Roswell loved Alex and I loved Jesse as well. Just the way it's stated it seems like if you don't like First Season only your not a true Roswell fan. I've watched it since the beginning. I've been to the parties, I've donated lots to charities in the name of Roswell. I support the writers and the actors. And I've read all the books. If that's not a true fan then what is?

Sorry, Brian I understand your pov, but that still stings a little.

I can't wait to the books come out. I didn't realize there were going to be four more. I've been a little busy.

I just finished Quaratine...i liked it - it gave us some closure to what happened in Future Max episode.

Dreamwalker was ok it was a whole lot better then little green men. I hope the New Beginning book is out - i will just run out to amazon.com and do a search. THANKS.

Posted 03-23-2003 04:58 PM by black widow
I GOT QUARANTINE TODAY!

yay! and i read half of it whilst waiting in the walk-in clinic lounge to see the doctor (bloody bronchitis!) -- so far, so good. i'm loving the continuity, and the lack of M/M fighting.

Posted 03-23-2003 06:32 PM by greenjetta
I read Quarantine yesterday and have to say that I wasn't very impressed by it. Not only was it shorter than the other books, but it felt weaker than the others too.

Posted 03-24-2003 03:46 PM by AlexEvans

quote:Originally posted by TDL:I think anyone who is a true fan would agree.

That's the term you used in terms of loving every minute of Roswell, including the crap of Season 3, the murder of one of the core characters, and the substitution of a different character who was married to one of the other originals!

You brought up the term... I hope you understand now how offended many Roswell fans are by what was done by Katims, and how we are hurt by the demands of some people that we just be happy with it.

Posted 03-25-2003 12:18 PM by Eidolon14
Tagline from the Roswlel High series. "When most teens are trying to figure who they are, they're trying to figure what they are." That concept is what made me love Roswell. Six teens brought together by the secret they shared. Season two broke them apart. That destroyed the innocence of Roswell that we all loved.

[ 03-25-2003: Message edited Eidolon14 ]

Posted 03-25-2003 12:48 PM by twilliams
Tagline from the Roswlel High series. "When most teens are trying to figure who they are, they're trying to figure what they are." That concept is what made me love Roswell. Six teens brought together by the secret they shared. Season two broke them apart. That destroyed the innocence of Roswell that we all loved.

I agree that season two really destoyed that group... I mean u would think during this season it would patch things up. But no. the writers didnt seem to see it that way. not that im completely blaming the writers for it either. i think there was a lot of things that could of been done differentlt. instead looking towards this

Posted 03-25-2003 05:43 PM by greenjetta
I actually liked seasons 2 and 3 better than season 1. I enjoyed the sci-fi/alien stories, and I liked Tess. She made the show interesting at times. I had no problems with her or with Jesse. The show was great for what it was, entertainment!

[ 03-25-2003: Message edited greenjetta ]

Posted 03-25-2003 07:52 PM by AlexEvans
I agree... the show worked best under its original concept.

Season 2 was still entertaining.

Season 3 just wasn't fun. Jesse wasn't just boring, he was painful to see him where he didn't belong. Combined with inconsistent characterization, lack of plot continuity, lame and anti-climactic storylines, the season was a complete mess. Yet they're making books based off of that... I don't understand that decision at all.

Posted 03-26-2003 07:45 PM by shapeshifter
Jesse & Isabel making out is boring. But Jessie doing comedy is terrific. Like in IMAA. And in the last show when he says, "Wait, don't shoot, or blast, or whatever it is you do." Adam Rodriguez is doing drama now. I haven't seen it, but I think it's a waste, because he's much better at comedy.

Posted 03-27-2003 12:43 AM by black widow
i agree -- i thought jesse was quite good in IMAA.

back on the topic of books ... i really am enjoying 'quarantine' so far, especially the maria/michael storyline. laura burns (obviously) has the best grip on the characterizations and personalities, and it shows. it's so refreshing to read a story where M/M aren't bickering incessantly but actually depicted as two people who, despite their flaws and kookiness, really do care for one another very deeply. and i love the sub plot with sadie, too.

Posted 03-27-2003 06:47 PM by greenjetta
Adam Rodriguez has been great on CSI:Miami, I'm glad he was able to get a job on a successful show. And I'm also glad that Jesse has been included in the books. He was a part of Isabel's life after all!

[ 03-27-2003: Message edited greenjetta ]

Posted 03-27-2003 08:43 PM by shapeshifter
greenjetta, glad to hear it. I tried turning it on once at the moment when they were graphically showing the last stages of an autopsy.

The inclusion of Jessie in the last books is a big reason to read them--it fills in the huge gaping plot hole that was the beginning of Season 3 and was obviously too big of a leap for many fans.

Posted 03-27-2003 09:18 PM by black widow

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:The inclusion of Jessie in the last books is a big reason to read them--it fills in the huge gaping plot hole that was the beginning of Season 3 and was obviously too big of a leap for many fans.

that's a really good point, and very true. if i was able to read all the summer-in-between-seasons-2-and-3 books first and THEN see the season 3 premiere, the whole isabel/jesse storyline would have made more sense and i wouldn't have felt it was as big of a leap. as backstory, these books are great for filling in little plot gaps. of course, it would have been better if we'd seen all this develop onscreen instead, but as 'filler', it's still satisfying to read, at least for me.

Posted 03-27-2003 09:36 PM by shapeshifter
I bet the ratings on seasons 2 & 3 would have been better if they could've released the books in between. But that would have been just about impossible since the authors need to know in advance where the plot is going.

I'm really looking forward to the post-Graduation ("New Beginnings") book, but I wouldn't mind more 'fill-in-the-plot-holes' books if they're well-written.

Posted 03-27-2003 10:34 PM by AlexEvans
I'd much rather they filled in the holes from when they had Alex.

They have that whole summer after "Destiny" to play with. I guess Liz would be off in Florida, but at least she isn't dead! I don't like the idea of books missing any of the original six but I think they'd work a lot better with a character elsewhere than with a character deceased.

Alex and Isabel would be together even. They could explain the break up at the end of the summer... a season which could take several books.

I think it's too late too explain the Interloper. They already slammed him down our throats... it's too late to explain where he came from. Besides, much as an explanation would have clarified things, not having him at all (or killing Liz and having Max and Jesse get married) would have made more sense and been a lot better.

[ 03-27-2003: Message edited AlexEvans ]

Posted 03-28-2003 09:07 PM by greenjetta
Max and Jesse get married?

Posted 04-03-2003 10:47 PM by shapeshifter
Watching Chant Down Babylon after reading Quarantine I found myself trying to decide if Morgan's lines in the bedroom with Claymax betrayed that she would have known Liz quite well if Quarantine had happened. It's iffy, but it works.

I also liked Quarentine for it's characterizations. I was VERY tired of the M/M bickering just for bickering's sake. Maybe they check the boards and realized that people were NOT impressed by that. Or maybe Laura Burns just had a better feel for the characters. I found a lot more depth to them in this book than in the others.

As for Iz & Jesse, he never really bothered me. I figured they'd have to bring someone in for Iz to play off of. But I've always thought it would've "sat" better if they'd have MET during Busted when she and Michael showed up in Utah. Then we could've seen the relationship build a little - and everything that happened in the eps, except the wedding, could've still happened as she struggled with whether to tell him and if she should marry him. A few changes would've had to be made - like they couldn't have gone on a honeymoon - but they would be rather minor changes. Kivar could've still come & her love for Jesse could've still defeated him. Etc, Etc, Etc. But they could've gotten engaged and PLANNED to be married after Graduation - with the finale ending those plans....just as sad. But it would've left him being able to move to Boston unencumbered! I ask you, did Iz REALLY believe that the FBI would not follow him around knowing he'd been married to one of their main targets????? Leaving him behind did no good! But.....

Posted 04-10-2003 09:29 AM by TobAng

quote:Originally posted by shapeshifter:And in the last show when he says, "Wait, don't shoot, or blast, or whatever it is you do." Adam Rodriguez is doing drama now. I haven't seen it, but I think it's a waste, because he's much better at comedy.

I know i loved that line. now he's like on CSI:Miami or something. Very weird to see "Jesse" doing that.

Posted 04-10-2003 06:50 PM by Eidolon14
Liz and Kyle's symptons were similiar to the akino as well.